Prince Harry has accepted an award despite calls for him to reject the accolade after tens of thousands of people signed a petition in a bid to stop it.
Harry was criticised over his nomination for the Pat Tillman Award for Service after it was revealed that he would receive it at the ESPY (Excellence in Sport Performance Yearly) Awards in Los Angeles for founding the Invictus Games ten years ago.
The Duke of Sussex paid tribute to his own mother, Princess Diana, as he praised their "eternal bond".
He also addressed Pat Tillman's mother while accepting her son's namesake award - despite her criticism.
Prince Harry has accepted a military award despite calls for him to reject the accolade after the mother of a dead war hero condemned the DukeGettyMary shared her "shock" at hearing that such a "controversial and divisive individual" was set to receive the award named after her son.
The awards were set up in honour of Tillman, a former NFL player who enlisted in the US Army following 9/11 and died in 2004 while serving in the military.
Harry told the crowd that he has "respect" for Mary's advocacy of her son's memory.
He said: "Her advocacy for Pat’s legacy is deeply personal and one that I respect.
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The Duke of Sussex paid tribute to his own mother, Princess Diana, as he praised their 'eternal bond'
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"The bond between a mother and son is eternal and transcends even the greatest losses."
It came after Admiral Lord Alan West - a First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff from 2002 to 2006 - warned the Prince that "he ought to think very hard and long" about accepting particular awards.
Lord West urged him to decline the award as it "doesn't travel well with people in the military".
However, Harry appeared to ignore the backlash and accepted the award as Meghan Markle watched on.
Meghan's friend tennis legend Serena Williams hosted the awards in LA
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Meghan smiled as the Duke took to the stage to pay tribute to wounded veterans
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Meghan smiled as the Duke took to the stage to pay tribute to wounded veterans.
Harry said: "I stand here not as Prince Harry, Pat Tillman Award recipient, but rather a voice on behalf of the Invictus Games Foundation and the thousands of veterans and service personnel from over 20 nations who have made the Invictus Games a reality.
"This award belongs to them, not to me."
ESPN has defended its decision to nominate Harry as officials noted his role in setting up the Invictus Games.
