Prince Harry to be honoured with an ESPY award for his work with the Invictus Games – but the Duke of Sussex is suffereing a backlash from the American footballer-turned-war hero’s mother who feels like there are other recipients who “are far more fitting” of the award named after her son.

The Duke of Sussex is to be honoured with the Pat Tillman Award at the ESPY’s on July 11 in Los Angeles, California. Pat gave up his career with the Arizona Cardinals to serve his country after the 9/11 attacks only to be killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart for bravery.

Harry is being recognized for his work with injured veterans with the Invictus Games. Since 1993, ESPN has presented the ESPY Awards, an annual awards show that honours outstanding performance in sports. Purple Heart recipients, Iraq war veterans, Army sergeants, Paralympic gold medalists, and most recently, the Buffalo Bills training staff for their life-saving actions when Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest, have all received recognition at the annual ESPY Awards show for the past ten years.

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Pat’s mum, Mary, previously told the Daily Mail: “I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award.” She added: “There are recipients that are far more fitting. There are individuals working in the veteran community that are doing tremendous things to assist veterans.”

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams agreed and now tells The Sun: “It’s a very, very sad situation, and I think this is one of the reasons Mary Tillman, the mother of Pat, believes that Harry isn’t fit, and that is a wasted opportunity. In my opinion, I think it’s been a tragedy all round.”

Fitzwilliamsagreed that Harry’s work with the Invictus Games was a “remarkable achievement.” He also feels like Harry could have done more for other charities like the Royal Family has without the public eye. Harry travelled to London to celebrate 10 years of the Invictus Games this year and a ceremony was held at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8.

Fitzwilliams said: “Consider what they could have achieved but also what they could have done in an addition to Invictus and other charities for others. If you look at the way members of the Royal Family, tirelessly, very often without publicity, carry out royal duties, it’s very important to see.”