Las Vegas: Prince Harry has surprised audiences by attending the NFL Honors in Las Vegas days after visiting King Charles, who is suffering from cancer. Harry was on hand to present Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward with the top honour of the night, the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
Harry journeyed thousands of miles from California to be by the side of the King. The prince visited his father, the King, at Clarence House where he was recovering after receiving treatment. Duke of Sussex did not see his brother William or sister-in-law Kate as she is recovering from planned abdominal surgery.
The relationship between the royal brothers has been strained for several years now, ever since Harry stepped down from his royal duties in early 2020 to reside in the US with his wife Meghan, and their two children, four-year-old Archie and two-year-old Lilibet.
Since moving to America, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been openly critical of the Royal Family, including in Harry’s book, “Spare,” which was published last year. The NFL awards ceremony was Harry’s first public appearance since King’s diagnosis. During the introduction of the award, Harry joked that the United States “stole rugby from us and made it your own.”
“Instead of passing it backwards, just pass it forwards,” Prince Harry said. “Why not wear pads and a helmet? All kidding aside, what you guys do on and off the field is truly remarkable. You are role models for millions in the way you carry yourselves and the way you give back. This final award, the highest honour, is all about serving your community, and there is one special man we’d like to pay tribute to now,” Duke Harry remarked.
Accepting the award and hugging the Duke, Hayward said that, “Prince freakin’ Harry, I’m shocked, that’s Prince Harry.”
The 34-year-old founded the Hayward House Foundation, which supports many initiatives in the Pittsburgh area. The award recognizes a player who has achieved achievements on and off the field and made a positive impact on their community. The winner will donate $250,000 (£198,000) to a charity of their choice.
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