Prince Harry has faced further backlash over his decision to accept the Pat Tillman award at the annual ESPYs against the wishes of the late soldier’s mother.

A royal insider has slammed Prince Harry for agreeing to accept the Pat Tillman Award for service from ESPN and said the debacle proved the Duke is “out of his depth”.

Harry, 39, will receive the gong – which is named in memory of late NFL player and U.S. Army Ranger Pat Tillman – at this year’s ESPY Sports Awards on Thursday evening Los Angeles time in recognition of his Invictus Games foundation.

However, the late soldier’s mother Mary Tillman slammed ESPN for honouring the Duke of Sussex and pointed out there were “more fitting” recipients for the award.

Mr Tillman abandoned his sports career and enlisted in the United States Army in May 2002 in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks but was tragically killed by “friendly fire” in 2004.

Harry will accept the prestigious Pat Tillman award at the ESPYs on Thursday. Picture by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Project Healthy Minds.
“I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award,” Ms Tillman told British newspaper the Daily Mail last week.

Royal biographer Hugo Vickers argued that Harry “doesn’t need” the ESPY award, which is traditionally handed out to current and former professional athletes.

“I think it is a bit uncomfortable, he doesn’t need an award,” he told The Sun’s Matt Wilkinson on his Royal Exclusive show on Wednesday.

“I think what he did with the Invictus Games was brilliant and I am glad he is still doing things for them (but) the problem is it gets tied up with this need for reinvention, publicity, which they’re always doing.

Harry’s latest award is named in honour of late NFL player and war veteran Pat Tillman. Picture: Plus via Williamson Stealth Media Solutions.
“I feel sorry for Harry because he looks unhappy, I think he is out of his depth if I am to be honest.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are both widely tipped to attend Thursday’s televised award show in person, which will be broadcast in primetime on American network ABC and hosted by Serena Williams.

Harry is one of three recipients receiving the gong this year alongside former athletes Steve Gleason and Dawn Staley.

Mr Gleason, 47, is a former NFL player for the New Orleans Saints who has become best known as an advocate for ALS after being diagnosed with the neurological disorder in 2011.

The ESPYs will air live on Thursday evening Los Angeles time. Picture by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images.
Ms Staley is a former basketballer and head coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team who coached the United States Women’s basketball team to the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

Mr Vickers also claimed the public finds the Sussexes “unattractive” because Harry and Meghan are seemingly “working for themselves”.

“The difference between what they’re (Harry and Meghan) doing and what the British Royal Family are doing – the British Royal Family are working for the nation, the Commonwealth, and Harry and Meghan seem to be working for themselves,” he said.

“And that’s always unattractive I think.”