Harry comes under fire for ‘daft’ living legend award

THE Duke of Sussex has been engulfed in a row after the decision to recognise him as a “living legend of aviation” was branded “daft”.

Both Prince Harry, 39, who completed two tours of Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter pilot, and Meghan, 42, will attend next week’s ceremony in Beverley Hills, California. It is their first public engagement of the new year.

The Duke will join the likes of astronauts Buzz Aldrin and James Lovell in being honoured by the body when he is inducted.

Other prominent inductees who have made “significant contributions to the aerospace industry” include billionaires Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Sir Richard Branson.

Defence chiefs lashed out at the decision to recognise the Duke ahead of others such as astronaut Tim Peake, the first British astronaut to walk in space.

Admiral Lord West, former head of the Royal Navy, said: “He is not a living legend of aviation. To suggest he is, is pathetic. It makes the whole thing seem a bit of a nonsense if they’re willing to pick someone like Prince Harry.

“There are lots of people who deserve to be called [legend] but not Prince Harry. I find it extraordinary he has been picked. He didn’t carry off any great exciting feat of amazing flying skill while flying for the Army.”

Royal commentator Robert Jobson said: “I think the idea that Prince Harry is getting an award for being a living legend of aviation seems a bit daft.”

He told The Express: “He’s hardly Amelia Earhart, is he?”

Retired British Army Colonel Richard Kemp told The Sun: “I can think of many people who did pretty extraordinary things while serving in the armed forces which would be much more deserving of an award like this. An Apache is crewed by two people – a pilot and a gunner. Harry was a gunner. He was number two in the aircraft.”

The ceremony next Friday will be hosted by John Travolta.

♦ Triple amputee Marl Ormrod, 40, who the Duke of Sussex has hailed as a “real hero”, has had his stolen prosthetic legs returned. The former Royal Marine hailed “the power of social media” after a stranger found his legs abandoned in an alley behind her house and contacted him.