Royal expert issues Prince Harry warning after 'controversial' award win

A royal expert has suggested that Prince Harry should "do the honourable thing" and decline a "controversial" award nomination.

Richard Eden, the diary editor for the Daily Mail, shared his thoughts on the Daily Mail's Palace Confidential podcast on YouTube alongside fellow royal commentators Rebecca English and Charlotte Griffiths.

Prince Harry is in line to receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service, an accolade named after former NFL player Pat Tillman, who left his sporting career to serve in the US military following 9/11 but was tragically killed by friendly fire in 2004.

Eden said: "I just think for once, Harry needs to do the honourable thing and you know, just say no; turn it down."

He added: "I've written for a piece for Mail+ in my newsletter this week is that Harry should say, 'you know what, actually, I won't accept this because the last thing the organisers of this event want is this kind of controversy'."

He further commented: "You know, it's a great award that's meant to be honouring someone who's put service before personal gain, and it really isn't appropriate for Harry to get it," reports the Express.

Eden concluded: "So I said, if you know, if he's a gentleman, if he's got a sense of shame, he won't accept it."

The nomination has sparked outrage among some, including Tillman's mother, who believes there are "far more fitting" recipients for the award. This has led to a petition urging ESPN to reconsider its decision.

Rebecca English, the royal editor for the Daily Mail, has labelled the latest saga as "controversial". She referenced Tillman's mother, who is reportedly fuming over the nomination of Prince Harry - given his "divisive" and "controversial" nature.

Charlotte Griffiths, the Mail on Sunday's editor at large, when quizzed about whether Prince Harry ought to reach out to Mrs Tillman, suggested: "I think it would really win her over."

Adding to the discourse, Griffiths pointed out: "She's obviously a very outspoken woman. She.. maybe he'll change her mind, and then he can have the last laugh, which he loves having over the press because of course we picked up on the fact she's not happy about this."

Griffiths' nostalgia for the prince's charm emerged when she said: "And if he could somehow charm her. I mean there was a time when Harry was really very charming, and he was great with people like this."

However, she didn't hold back her present take on the Duke, saying: "It's such a shame that that's kind of got lost over the years because he's become so obsessed with his own ego."

In a candid interview for the Daily Mail, Mrs Tillman expressed her frustrations, acknowledging those in the veteran community who do "tremendous things" without the "money, resources, connections, or privilege that Prince Harry has".

Despite the uproar, Prince Harry is gearing up to accept an award honouring his initiative, the Invictus Games - a decade-strong sports competition for injured service members.