'Huge Backlash' In Prince Harry's Latest Award Shows How 'Unpopular' He, Meghan Markle Are: Royal Commentator

Prince Harry's latest recognition has sparked an intense backlash, which allegedly proves his unpopularity in the United States, according to a royal commentator.

The Duke of Sussex is set to receive the Pat Tillman Award at the 2024 ESPYs next month. However, many questioned the decision to give him the award, including Tillman's mom, Mary. Nile Gardiner, the director of The Heritage Foundation and a royal commentator, shared his thoughts about the issue. He believes it was down to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's unpopularity.

Gardiner joined TV presenter Ben Leo on GB News, and the latter asked the former about the backlash that Prince Harry received due to the Pat Tillman award, noting that the mother of the late athlete and soldier questioned the decision to choose Prince Harry, whom she called "controversial and divisive." The host then asked Gardiner his thoughts about the Sussex squad's claims that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are "supremely popular in the US," adding, "Is that not the case?"

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"The Sussex squad are, frankly, full of false propaganda," Gardiner said. "Harry and Meghan, I would say, [are] increasingly unpopular in the United States. In fact, I describe [them] as two of the most unpopular figures in the US today actually. And Harry and Meghan are viewed as selfish narcissistic individuals who have launched attack after attack upon the royal family, and the Americans are very pro the British monarchy."

When asked if it was the reason Mary was not keen on Prince Harry receiving the award named after her son, Gardiner said she had the right to question it. Gardiner also mentioned the petition calling out ESPN to reconsider its decision about giving the Pat Tillman Award to the Duke of Sussex.

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"I think this is an illustration of the fact that Harry and Meghan's narcissism does not go down very well in the United States, and in America, most American people really love the royal family," he added.

"And they do not look kindly upon Harry and Meghan, basically trashing the royal family in the United States, and it does not go down very well. They're very divisive figures, and this award is very, very controversial. There's a huge backlash in the United States, and it's an illustration of just how unpopular Harry and Meghan are on both sides of the Atlantic."

There are rumors that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning to return to the United Kingdom four years after they quit their royal duties to settle in the United States. Lizzie Cundy, a British socialite and TV personality, reacted to the rumors and said if they were true, that would be a sign that the Sussexes "have lost all popularity in the States."