Harry and Meghan at the ESPY awards

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were in the audience at the 2024 ESPY Awards as close pal Serena Williams made a brutal joke about the couple during her opening monologue

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle couldn’t help but offer awkward smiles after their good friend Serena Williams made a savage joke at their expense.

The tennis legend, who has been tight with the Royal duo for more than ten years, gave them a shout-out during her opening spiel at the star-studded 2024 ESPY Awards on Thursday evening. The Duke of Sussex was there to receive the prestigious Pat Tillman Award for Service at the glitzy bash in Los Angeles. Harry has been under fire for accepting the ESPN accolade, which commemorates a heroic soldier and former NFL star, with critics suggesting it’s “exceptionally bad publicity” for him.

Serena, hosting the event, couldn’t resist poking fun at Harry and Meghan right from the get-go, quipping about how often she rubs shoulders with royalty, reports the Express. She called for the crowd to give the Sussexes a warm welcome, before playfully warning: “But please, Harry and Meghan, try not to breathe too much tonight.”

Adding a zinger, she continued: “Because this is my night and I don’t want to be overshadowed by accusations you guys are taking up too much oxygen.” Despite the ribbing, the pair appeared to take the jest in stride, chuckling along as the cameras zoomed in on them among the audience.

Serena and the Sussexes go way back, having first crossed paths at the 2010 Super Bowl. Meghan, reflecting on their friendship in her The Tig blog back in 2014, wrote: “We are both the same age, have a penchant for hot sauces and adore fashion, but what connects us more than those things is perhaps our belief in exceeding expectations – our endless ambition.”The 2024 ESPY Awards - Show, serena williams hosting

Serena Williams hosted this year’s ESPY awards (
Image:(Image: Getty))

Some Royal commentators are sceptical about whether Prince Harry should have accepted the accolade amid sharp judgement over his nomination. Hilary Fordwich, a recognized pundit on British Royal matters, revealed to Fox News: “His refusal to turn down the Pat Tillman Award, despite suffering a furious backlash with the petition urging ESPN to reconsider its decision…tangibly shows how his popularity has plummeted.”

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Meanwhile, criticism has also come from Admiral Lord Alan West, the former head of the Royal Navy and a Labour peer, who advised that Harry should “The latest lash out at him is Admiral Lord Alan West, Former Royal Navy Chief and Labour peer, saying that ‘he ought to think very hard and long’ about accepting this particular award as it ‘doesn’t travel well with people in the military.'” before taking the award, as it doesn’t sit well with many in the military.

The 2024 ESPY Awards - Show, harry and meghan smiling at camera

Harry is picking up an award at the ESPY Awards (Image:(Image: Getty))
Contrastingly, Christopher Andersen, author of ‘The King’, applauded Prince Harry for taking the ESPN honour. Andersen remarked: “Harry obviously considered it a great honor and given what he has done for wounded veterans through his Invictus Games, the Duke of Sussex certainly seemed a logical choice.”

He added, defending Harry’s choices: “Harry is so proud of his military service and Invictus that it’s no wonder he is stunned by the backlash. Harry is used to being raked over the coals, but this is a genuine heartbreak for him.”