Prince Harry to be Honored as a Military Helicopter Pilot in the Living Legends of Aviation

Prince Harry Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Prince Harry, 39, will be honored for his service as a military helicopter pilot with a special award at the 21st Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards on January 19. The announcement was made on Wednesday, January 10, and the ceremony will be hosted by John Travolta.

Along with Harry, three other individuals will be recognized for their impact on the aviation industry. These include Fred George, a former Navy pilot and esteemed writer, Marc Parent, the CEO of flight training company CAE Inc., and Steve Hinton, a former world speed record holder and film pilot.

Harry is being honored for his decade of military service as a helicopter pilot with the British Army, receiving numerous accolades for his Flying Wings. He is also known for founding the nonprofit Invictus Games, an annual charity event supporting wounded service members and veterans worldwide.

In his 2023 memoir, Spare, the former royal reflected on his military experiences, including the dangerous missions he undertook during his army tenure. Harry openly discussed the lives he took during his two tours of duty in Afghanistan, acknowledging that he had killed more than two dozen Taliban militants as a helicopter pilot in 2012 and 2013. Despite facing criticism for sharing these memories and being accused of "boasting" about his wartime experience, Harry defended his decision to include his past service in the book, stating that he hoped to use his story to support fellow veterans struggling with PTSD and other mental health issues upon their return home.

During a January 2023 appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, he expressed the importance of sharing his experiences in his book, particularly for veterans and civilians. Despite facing challenges from the royal family, including the loss of his honorary military titles, Harry remains proud of his military achievements.

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At Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022, Harry was prohibited from wearing his uniform at the memorial service. Despite this, Harry emphasized during his 2023 Invictus Games speech that the uniform is just a small part of the military identity.

“For many of you, the uniform you’ve worn this past week may bring a new story, and for others, it may give your old uniform new meaning,” he told the crowd in September 2023. “But I want to remind you that after all of this, you don’t need to depend on a uniform, nor should you ever feel lost without one. Why? Because everything you need is already within you.”