Admiral tells Prince Harry not to accept US war hero award named after Pat Tillman

Prince Harry has been told by a former defence chief to turn down an award named after a US war hero killed in Afghanistan or face the wrath of military veterans.

Admiral Lord West spoke out as the Duke of Sussex is set to be presented with the Pat Tillman Award for his Invictus Games work at the awards in Los Angeles on Thursday.

The former head of the Royal Navy and Labour peer warned: “He ought to think very hard and long about accepting awards for things like being an exceptional pilot and being exceptionally brave.

“Some of the blame must lie with (organisers) ESPN. They like picking him because it gives them immense publicity. But this is rather bad publicity for Harry.

“Harry should be well advised to sit back and not accept awards like this. It doesn’t travel well with people in the military. And when the mother of the man who died doesn’t want him to get this award, he should think about that.

“My advice is to sit back and not accept any awards at the moment. They are going his way because he has such a high profile and people want to take advantage of that.”

American football star Tillman gave up an AUD$5.7 million deal to enlist in the US Army after 9/11 but was killed at 27 by friendly fire in 2004.

His mother Mary told the Mail last week: “I was shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual. There are recipients that are far more fitting.”

Sources have claimed that Harry has been stunned by the backlash against his nomination.

They told the Daily Telegraph it was a “bitter pill to swallow” when he is criticised about anything relating to his military record and work with veterans.

“Harry’s legacy on Invictus, the things he has achieved, that’s his real passion,” added the insiders.

“This is the space in which he truly feels at home, it is something he deeply cares about.

“The reaction certainly took the shine off the award.”

Lord West has previously called former Apache helicopter pilot Harry “pathetic” after he was named as a Living Legend of Aviation in another US award in January.

The duke will be given the latest honour by tennis legend Serena Williams, a friend of his wife Meghan, at the ESPY (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly) Awards.

It has previously gone to unsung heroes, including last year to training staff with the Buffalo Bills American football team who revived a dying player on the field.

The prince’s office was contacted for comment.