Prince Harry made a surprise appearance at the annual Tillman Honors gala in Chicago this week after previously accepting the Pat Tillman Award for Service in July.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, joined 40 Tillman Scholars, Israel Del Toro, retired NFL quarterback Jake Plummer and Pat Tillman Foundation CEO Dr. Katherine Steele for a leadership development session ahead of the prestigious charity dinner, held on Wednesday, November 6.
At the dinner, which celebrates former Arizona Cardinal and military member Pat Tillman’s enduring legacy, Harry was seated next to Marie Tillman Shenton.
Following the event, the Pat Tillman Foundation shared video highlights from the gala via its official Instagram account, which featured snippets of Prince Harry in attendance.
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“Thanks to everyone’s generous support, we are thrilled to report that we raised over $1M to support our Tillman Scholars!” the caption read.
In July, Harry received the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2024 ESPY Awards —an award given to an individual with a strong connection to sports who has helped others in a way that honors Tillman’s legacy.
Tillman, who was a safety for the Arizona Cardinals from 1998 to 2001, was killed in combat while serving as a U.S. Army Ranger in Afghanistan in 2004. Tillman was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for leading his unit in a successful rescue during his service.
Harry received the honor in recognition of his 10 years of service in the British Armed Forces and for cofounding the Invictus Games, an international event in which active and veteran service members who have been wounded, injured or sick compete in various sporting events.
However, the decision to choose Prince Harry as this year’s recipient faced some backlash — most notably from Tillman’s mother, Mary Tillman.
“I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award,” she told the Daily Mail in June. “There are recipients that are far more fitting. There are individuals working in the veteran community that are doing tremendous things to assist veterans.”
She added: “These individuals do not have the money, resources, connections or privilege that Prince Harry has. I feel that those types of individuals should be recognized.”
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However, ESPN stood by its selection of Harry to receive the honor in response to the backlash.
“ESPN, with the support of the Tillman Foundation, is honoring Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, specifically for the work of The Invictus Games Foundation as it celebrates its 10th year promoting healing through the power of sport for military service members and veterans around the world,” ESPN said in a statement to Us Weekly. “While we understand not everyone will agree with all honorees selected for any award, The Invictus Games Foundation does incredible work and ESPN believes this is a cause worth celebrating.”
