Breaking: Prince Harry ‘stunned’ by backlash to his ESPY nomination for ‘the Pat Tilman Award for Service’ after Afghanistan veteran’s own mother said she would have preferred for it to go to someone ‘less privileged’

Prince Harry was ‘stunned’ by the backlash he faced after being nominated for an award named after an American war hero killed in Afghanistan, sources have claimed.

The Duke of Sussex, 39, is due to be honoured with the Pat Tillman Award for Service for his Invictus Games work at the glitzy ESPY Awards in Los Angeles on July 11.

Tillman, an American football star who gave up a £3million contract to enlist in the US Army after 9/11, had his life tragically cut short at the age of 27 when he was killed in friendly fire while serving in Afghanistan 20 years ago.

His mother Mary, who said she was not consulted about Prince Harry being given the award bearing her son’s name, told the Mail last week: ‘I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award.

‘There are recipients that are far more fitting. There are individuals working in the veteran community that are doing tremendous things to assist veterans.

‘These individuals do not have the money, resources, connections or privilege that Prince Harry has. I feel that those types of individuals should be recognised.’