Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, had high hopes of being recognized for his achievements as a military pilot and humanitarian when he attended the Living Legends of Aviation Awards in Beverly Hills on Friday evening. However, instead of admiration and praise, he was met with mockery and criticism from the public and the royal family. The awards ceremony, hosted by actor and aviation ambassador John Travolta, was intended to honor Harry for his work as a British Army veteran and founder of the Invictus Games, a sporting event for injured military personnel and veterans. Harry, who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan as a forward air controller and Apache helicopter pilot, was among four people inducted into the Living Legends of Aviation. Other inductees included US Navy pilot Fred George, former world speed record holder Steve Hinton and Jeff Bezos' fiancée Lauren Sanchez.
However, Harry's presence at the event was overshadowed by several controversies that tarnished his image and reputation. First, he arrived without his wife, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, who reportedly had other commitments related to her Netflix and Spotify contracts. It raised questions about the state of their marriage and their level of commitment to each other, particularly after their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey earlier in the year, during which they accused the royal family of racism and neglect.
Second, Harry's acceptance speech was met with a mix of boos and cheers from the audience, who were unimpressed by what they perceived as hypocritical and self-aggrandizing remarks. Although he claimed to be dedicated to advancing the causes he was passionate about and bringing lasting change to people and places, Harry's actions seemed incongruous with his words. Critics have pointed out that he abandoned his royal duties, his military comrades and his charitable activities in the United Kingdom to seek fame and fortune in the United States. Some have accused him of exploiting the legacy of his late mother, Princess Diana, and of disrespecting his father, Prince Charles, and brother, Prince William, both avid pilots and fervent supporters of the armed forces.
Third, many ridiculed Harry's award as a joke or a publicity stunt. They argued that he had not made notable or noteworthy contributions to the field of aviation compared to the other inductees. Speculation even arose suggesting that he had paid for the price or that it was a favor from his Hollywood connections. Critics mockingly dismissed his title as a “Living Legend of Aviation”, saying he was neither living nor a legend, but rather a royal upstart who had lost relevance and credibility.
To compound Harry's humiliation, reports circulated that his former family were laughing at his misfortune and mocking his reward. According to sources, the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William were amused by Harry's fiasco, joking that he should have stayed in the UK and kept a low profile. They also expressed their disappointment and anger at Harry for betraying the monarchy and tarnishing the reputation of the royal family.
What was supposed to be a moment of glory and recognition for Harry turned into a public relations disaster that exposed his flaws and failures. Once dreaming of soaring as a prince and pilot, Harry has now fallen from grace and become a subject of ridicule.
