It was recently announced that Prince Harry will receive this year's Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPY Awards on July 11. The Pat Tillman Award is presented annually to "a person with a strong connection to sports" in honor of Tillman, a former NFL player turned U.S. Army Ranger who was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004, when Tillman was just 27 years old. Tillman gave up his football career to serve his country after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, and was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart for his service.

Ten years ago, Harry founded the Invictus Games, which helps wounded and injured service members, both veterans and active duty, find community through sports, and "his tireless efforts to positively impact the veteran community through the power of sports" He was selected to receive the award in Tillman's honor in recognition of his work. [Tillman's mother, Mary Tillman, said in an interview with The Daily Mail, "I am shocked as to why they chose such a controversial and divisive person to receive the award," adding that she had no part in approving the recipient and that she thought the recipient was "far more deserving. He added that he thought there were "far more deserving" individuals. He added, "There are people in the veteran community who are doing great work to help veterans. Such people do not have the money, resources, connections, or privileges that Prince Harry has. I feel that such individuals deserve to be recognized." [With the support of the Tillman Foundation, ESPN is honoring Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex with a special recognition for his work celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games Foundation, which promotes healing through the power of sport for military personnel and veterans worldwide. He said, "I understand that not everyone will agree with every honoree selected for any award, but the Invictus Games Foundation does great work, and ESPN believes this is an activity worthy of celebration.

According to The Independent, Invictus Games thanked ESPY for honoring Harry and the foundation's "work to help rehabilitate the international wounded, injured, or ill service community," and according to People, Harry himself said, "This is a service community It's for the whole thing."

In addition to founding the Invictus Games in 2014, Harry is also a 10-year veteran of the British Army, having served two tours in Afghanistan. And past recipients of the Pat Tillman Award have spoken out in defense of Harry's selection, as did Jake Wood, who received the award in 2018. He told TMZ today that Harry is a "natural fit" for the award and a "good choice." He also told Us Weekly that Harry's work with veterans is "to be commended."

He also added his support for Israel del Toro Jr. who received the Tillman Prize in 2017, saying that Harry's work with veterans made him a "deserving recipient" of this honor. Del Toro actually competed in the first Invictus Games in 2014 and won a gold medal in the shot put two years later, Us Weekly reported.

Meghan Markle is rumored to be attending the ESPYs, which will be held in L.A. and hosted by her longtime friend Serena Williams. The awards will air on July 11 at 8 p.m. on ABC.