Let’s talk about the recent buzz surrounding Prince Harry. The former military man is set to receive an honor at the 21st Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards, hosted by none other than John Travolta on January 19. This prestigious event aims to recognize individuals who’ve made remarkable contributions to aviation and aerospace. But, not everyone’s clapping just yet. As the news broke, it sparked a wave of backlash.
Harry Joins Aviation Elite
Joining Prince Harry in this year’s inductee lineup are some heavyweights in aviation: Steve Hinton, a renowned aviator; Marc Parent, the CEO of CAE; and Navy pilot Fred George. The question on everyone's mind is, “What exactly has Prince Harry done to earn this distinction?” A social media user voiced this concern on X, formerly known as Twitter, shortly after the announcement on January 11. It’s a valid question, right?
Harry’s Aviation Credentials
Now, let’s dive deeper into Harry’s background. At 39, he’s more than just a royal face. He’s a decorated veteran of the British Army with an impressive decade of military service under his belt. As a trained pilot, Harry participated in numerous training missions across the U.S. and the U.K. and even saw combat in Afghanistan. Despite this, the news of his induction has been met with skepticism.
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One Twitter user quipped, “Is this a joke? #PrinceHarry? Really?” Another chimed in, “Well, aren’t we all confused?! A living joke? YES! But a living legend for AVIATION?? A legendary joke that is! #PrinceHarry.” It’s clear that the public’s reaction ranges from disbelief to outright ridicule.
Public Opinion Weighs In
A third commenter summed it up bluntly, writing, “It is completely ridiculous that Prince Harry is even being considered.” But here’s the kicker: according to the official Living Legends website, the inductees and honorees are nominated and selected by the legends themselves—past recipients of the same honor. So, it seems Harry has the nod from some of the biggest names in aviation.
Before the release of his memoir, Spare, Harry opened up about his military career and his ongoing commitment to helping veterans. In an interview with People in January 2023, he shared, “I don’t know that you ever fully reconcile the painful elements of being at war. This is something each soldier has to confront, and in the nearly two decades of working alongside service personnel and veterans, I’ve listened to their stories and have shared mine.”
He went on to say, “In these conversations, we often talk about the parts of our service that haunt us — the lives lost, the lives taken. But also the parts of our service that heal us and the lives we’ve saved. It’s a duty, a job, and a service to our country — and having done two tours of duty in Afghanistan for my country, I’ve done all I could to be the best soldier I was trained to be.”
Harry concluded, “There’s truly no right or wrong way to try and navigate these feelings, but I know from my own healing journey that silence has been the least effective remedy. Expressing and detailing my experience is how I chose to deal with it, in the hopes it would help others.”
