Prince Harry, also known as the Duke of Sussex, faced a night filled with humiliation and distress at the 2024 NFL Honors Awards in Las Vegas on Thursday.
The prince, who had recently traveled from the United Kingdom to the United States after a brief and chilly visit to his father, King Charles III, who is currently battling cancer, found himself alone and isolated on stage.
He was there to present the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award to Cameron Hayward, a defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Throughout his speech, Prince Harry appeared visibly nervous and uncomfortable, met with a silent and disinterested audience.
The attendees displayed no enthusiasm for his words, with many leaving the venue one by one, seemingly protesting his presence and participation in the event.
The audience’s apathy and animosity towards Prince Harry were unmistakable, stemming from his controversial decisions and actions.
In 2020, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, stepped back from their roles within the royal family.
This move, along with their subsequent statements and behaviors, led to a decline in their popularity both in the United States and globally.
The couple relocated to California to pursue careers in Hollywood, striking a deal with Netflix, a streaming service known for producing content critical of the British monarchy and government.
Additionally, Harry and Meghan openly supported causes like Black Lives Matter, feminism, and climate change, often expressing opinions on social and environmental issues that some deemed intrusive and hypocritical.
Criticism also arose from Prince Harry and Meghan’s involvement in the Invictus Games, an event founded by Harry in 2014 for wounded and sick service personnel and veterans.
Their detractors accused them of using the games for personal gain and political agendas rather than focusing on supporting and honoring the participants and their families.
The couple’s extravagant lifestyle further fueled public discontent, as they were frequently seen adorned in high-end jewelry and designer apparel, a stark contrast to the modest circumstances of the veterans they purportedly championed.
The rift between Prince Harry, Meghan, and the royal family deepened over time, as their actions caused tensions within the traditionally neutral monarchy.
The couple faced legal challenges as former employees accused them of bullying and harassment.
Moreover, they became estranged from their own families, including Prince Harry’s father, Prince Charles, his brother, Prince William, and Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle.
Prince Harry’s recent brief and detached visit to the UK to see his ailing father sparked doubts about his sincerity and loyalty, given the limited time he spent with his family members.
The unfortunate episode at the NFL Honors Awards shed light on the growing dissatisfaction and disapproval towards Prince Harry and Meghan in the United States and globally.
Once revered for his military service and charitable endeavors, Prince Harry now found himself ostracized and ridiculed.
Labeled as the royal rebel who marred the NFL Honors Awards by some critics, Prince Harry’s reputation took another hit, portraying him as a letdown who betrayed his family, country, and supporters.
The event served as a stark reminder of the shifting perceptions surrounding Prince Harry and his wife, marking a significant departure from their previous standing in the public eye.