Wide-eyed Harry was TERRIFIED to accept war hero gong & was ‘completely aware’ of criticism, body language pro says
PRINCE Harry was “terrified” and “completely aware” of fierce backlash as he collected his war hero award, a body language expert said.
The Duke of Sussex was honoured with the Pat Tillman Award for Service gong at the 2024 ESPYS in L.A last night for his Invictus Games work.
His acceptance sparked strong criticism after ex-military chiefs previously urged Harry to reject it – while 70,000 people signed a petition to stop it.
Body language expert Judi James gave her detailed analysis of both Harry and wife Meghan Markle’s body language.
There was some postural awkwardness as he praised Tillman’s mother and one foot was lifted off the ground before he started to sway slightly
Judi James
“Harry’s body language during his speech suggested his complete awareness of the criticism that had been brewing prior to it,” she said.
“Like any good a-list actor accepting an Oscar he began by looking overwhelmed and shocked though, with a good dollop of humble thrown in.
“He posed staring ahead with a haunted and terrified-looking eye expression, standing hunched in what looked like performative disbelief.
“He called the presenters back on stage to stand with him as though nervous about appearing alone and needing company and then he rubbed his face and looked down, hinting he was overwhelmed.
“A loud puffing exhale suggested a re-boot and then his tongue-poke hinted at reluctance.
AWKWARD
Harry hailed Pat Tillman’s mother Mary, who criticised the duke, but the body language pro suggested he felt uncomfortable.
Mary previously said she believed there were others “far more fitting” and with less “privilege” who could have won the gong.
She said: “There are recipients that are far more fitting. There are individuals working in the veteran community that are doing tremendous things to assist veterans.
“These individuals do not have the money, resources, connections or privilege that Prince Harry has. I feel that those types of individuals should be recognised.”
This was reflected in Harry’s “awkwardness” as he hailed Mary’s work for her son’s foundation.
Ms James said: “There was some postural awkwardness as he praised Tillman’s mother and one foot was lifted off the ground before he started to sway slightly.”
She also highlighted “an eye-wince of shared emotion” as the dad-of-two described the bond between mother and son and “eternal”.
TURNING POINT
The duke’s body stature appeared to change as he shifted his focus to his Invictus Games, according to the expert.
According to ESPN, the Pat Tillman Award for Service is “given to a person with a strong connection to sports who has served others in a way that echoes the legacy of the former NFL player and US Army Ranger, Pat Tillman”.
The duke was offered the award “in honour of his tireless work in making a positive impact for the veteran community”.
ESPN said the Invictus Games has “transcended borders and impacted lives across every continent”.
Harry’s confidence grew as his speech continued and he highlighted his invaluable work towards supporting veterans.
“His ‘this award belongs to them not me’ signalled the start of his rituals of firm defiance,” said Ms James.
“He sucked his lips in and clamped them shut. His lower jaw began to jut and his brows pulled into a frown.
Prince Harry's Army career
Prince Harry entered RMAS in May 2005 to begin 44 weeks of Officer Cadet training, this was after passing his Regular Commissions Board (RCB), the qualification necessary to train at Sandhurst, in September 2004.
In January 2006, Clarence House announced he was to join the Blues and Royals, after which he was commissioned as an Army officer on 12 April that year.
The Duke of Sussex served in the Army for ten years, undertaking two tours of Afghanistan.
The father of two rose to the rank of Captain at the peak of his military career which began in 2004.
During his time serving, he qualified as an Apache Aircraft Commander.
In his memoir Spare he revealed he flew six missions during his second tour of duty which resulted in “the taking of human lives” of which he was neither proud nor ashamed.
His decision to leave the Army was confirmed in March 2015.
Prince Harry ended his military career at the rank of captain in June 2015, following a secondment to the Australian military.
General Sir Nicholas Carter, the then-Chief of the General Staff, said that Prince Harry had “achieved much in his 10 years as a soldier”.
“Harry began to bite at his words with a defiant micro-wince and a clenching of the jaw.
“He splayed his legs to show growing confidence for his campaigning theme, while clutching his award like a weapon.”
However, the body language analysist still believed the duke was glad to get off the stage.
She added: “There was a harry-hug for the presenters at the end as he turned to throw his arms round all three of them and then a smile of what looked like relief as he walked off backstage.”
‘MY HUSBAND, MY HERO’
The body language expert also shared her insight on Harry and Meghan’s behaviour as a couple.
She characterised the duchess as protective, maternal and overcome with pride.
“If there’s a headline from Meghan’s body language during Harry’s controversial appearance it is ‘My Husband – My Hero’,” she said.
Ms James pointed out Meg’s long white gown, from Staud’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection, saying it was “eerily similar” to her wedding dress.
“Meghan’s use of touch, facial expression and gesticulation created a narrative of protection, ownership, reassurance and maternal-style support,” she continued.
How Pat Tillman went from NFL star to war hero betrayed by his comrades
PAT Tillman first rocketed to fame as a linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL.
But after 9/11 American football star turned down a $3.6million three-year contract to join the US Army with his brother Kevin.
Tillman married his high school sweetheart Marie Ugenti before taking part in the invasion of Iraq as a US Ranger.
The sportsman-turned-soldier was later deployed to a forward operating base in Afghanistan.
On April 22, 2004 Tillman was initially reported to have been killed by enemy combatants.
The US Army claimed Tillman’s unit had been attacked in an ambush near the border with Pakistan.
But a probe by military cops, the Department of Defence and the US Congress found Tillman had actually been killed by friendly fire.
The investigation found Tillman was shot three times in the head at a distance of less than ten yards, with no evidence of enemy fire.
Top brass approved a Silver Star citation saying Tillman was killed by “devastating enemy fire” while covering up his true fate.
Tillman’s unit burned his body army and medal-stitched uniform in a bid to destroy evidence of the friendly fire killing.
The military also instructed Tillman’s comrades to lie to his family at his funeral.
One three-star general told investigators 70 times that he couldn’t remember his actions after lying to Tillman’s grieving parents.
Tillman may have recorded his thoughts on the Afghanistan war in his notebook – but it was burned in a “blatant” protocol breach.
Shortly before his death, war hero Tillman had described the Iraq war as “f***ing illegal”.
Investigative journalist Chris Matthews reported that Tillman’s death may have been a deliberate murder.
There were said to be fears among top brass that “poster child” recruit Tillman would speak out against America’s War on Terror.
Testifying before Congress, his brave mother Mary said: “The deception surrounding this case was an insult to the family.
“But more importantly, its primary purpose was to deceive a whole nation.”
“Sitting in the front row, she produced a smile of beaming, cheek-rounded pride with a glow in her eyes as she looked into the camera.
“Her right hand was placed carefully on Harry’s thigh to show protective ownership and as he got announced to speak and stood to go up on stage she squeezed his hand in a lingering sign of reluctance to let him go before jumping up to lead a standing ovation.”
Meanwhile, on the red-carpet, the mum-of-two clung onto Harry with two arms which signalled “togetherness”, “pride and support”.
The couple’s strong show of unity comes in the face of backlash thrown at Harry.
A source claimed controversy surrounding the gong had been a hard pill to swallow for the duke – who has proudly poured years of work into helping war veterans.
The insider claimed that while Harry and his team are used to being criticised, he found discussion around his work with the military upsetting.
They told Telegraph: “Harry’s legacy on Invictus, the things he has achieved, that’s his real passion.
“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.”
GONG BACKLASH
Despite the undoubtedly incredible work Harry and the Invictus Games have done for veterans and the military community, the duke has come under fire.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun: “Harry founded the Invictus Games 10 years ago.
“It’s remarkable. It helps wounded and disabled service men and women, both in the services and veterans, and no one is casting any aspersions on that.”
But, he added: “What isn’t ideal is that Harry’s idea of service is very, very questionable.
“They (Duke and Duchess of Sussex) blindsided the late Queen Elizabeth by announcing they were stepping back, and then it led to them stepping down as senior working royals.
“Now that is not proper service.
“And when the Queen talked about the problems of combining a half-in, half-out royal life with public service, the Sussexes said that service was universal.
“They appeared as though they thought they knew more about service than the Queen.”
Meanwhile, former head of the Royal Navy Lord West saying Harry should think “hard and long” about his choice.
In the lead up to the event, he told The Sun: “I really think 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.”
Another retired military officer, Colonel Richard Kemp, said the award is just “celebrities massaging each other’s egos”.
Meanwhile, historian and biographer Hugo Vickers claimed Harry doesn’t need an award – and this is a failed attempt to reinvent himself.
And, ESPN personality Pat McAfee suggested Harry had only been put up for the award to improve TV ratings.
Past honorees of the Pat Tillman Award
The Buffalo Bills’ training staff (2023) after Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on field.
Retired US Army Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans (2022) who founded Team Unbroken, an adaptive racing team of mostly veterans.
Manchester United star Marcus Rashford (2021).
Health care worker and boxing champion Kim Clavel (2020).
Kristie Ennis, former Marine and founder of the Kristie Ennis Foundation (2019).
Navy-Marine Commendation Medal recipient, Sergeant and founder of Team Rubicon Jake Wood (2018).
Purple Heart recipient and Invictus Games gold medalist Israel Del Toro (2017).
U.S. Army Sgt. and Invictus Games gold medalist Elizabeth Marks (2016).
Former Notre Dame basketball player, Iraq War veteran and Purple Heart recipient Danielle Green (2015).
U.S. Paralympic gold-medal sled hockey player and Purple Heart recipient Josh Sweeney (2014).
