Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, will soon have a new title to his list: Living Legend of Aviation.
The fifth in line to the British throne will be one of four inductees at the 21st Living Legends of Aviation Awards on January 19, 2024, an event hosted by John Travolta.
This will see Prince Harry join the ranks of legendary astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, who are among the past recipients. Inductees of Living Legends of Aviation are chosen for their significant contributions to aviation and aerospace.
Prince Harry is to be joined by three other inductees:
Fred George – a Navy pilot with over 300 carrier landings, and now a renowned aviation writer.
Marc Parent – appointed President and CEO of CAE in 2009, has led the company’s growth beyond simulation products to include training and support services for commercial and business aviation.
Steve Hinton – an American aviator who held a world speed record from 1979 to 1989. He has flown as a pilot for film since 1977, working on 100 motion pictures and TV productions.
Why is Prince Harry an inductee of Living Legends of Aviation?
Between 2005 and 2015, Prince Harry served in the British Army, during which time he undertook two tours of duty in Afghanistan as a forward air controller and an Apache helicopter pilot.
The prince undertook two tours of Afghanistan. He first served in Helmand Province in 2007 and 2008, but his tour was abruptly cut short after a media outlet broke a news embargo, revealing his presence in the warzone. He subsequently returned for a second tour in 2012.
After completing his military service, The Duke founded the Invictus Games Foundation, a platform for wounded, injured and sick service personnel to use sport as a rehabilitation.
Prince Harry has also founded a number of other global charities and organizations including Travalyst, Sentebale, African Parks, and WellChild.
In January 2023, his memoir ‘Spare’, ghostwritten by J. R. Moehringer, was published by Penguin Random House.
Backlash and controversy
Not everyone is impressed with the prince being honored as an inductee of the Living Legends of Aviation.
The awards night, set to take place in Beverly Hills, has been labeled as “celebrities massaging each others’ egos” by retired Army Colonel Richard Kemp, telling The Sun, “He [Prince Harry] was a gunner in an Apache helicopter in Afghanistan but so were many, many other people.”
Admiral Lord Alan West, Britain’s former Chief of Naval Staff, told the Daily Mail that to suggest the prince is a living legend of aviation is “pathetic.”
“He didn’t carry off any great exciting feat of amazing flying skill while flying for the army. They’re just trying to get publicity. They know it will cause a stir. I find the whole thing really rather pathetic,” West told the Daily Mail.
Social media users worldwide have also taken to X (formerly Twitter) to express their disdain over Prince Harry receiving the award.
