Prince Harry's Living Legends of Aviation Awards seem 'needy' and 'slightly pathetic', royal expert tells PALACE CONFIDENTIAL

Prince Harry's Living Legends of Aviation Award comes across as 'needy', Richard Eden has told Palace Confidential.

Speaking on the Mail+ weekly talk show, the Daily Mail's Diary Editor said it is unclear why the 39-year-old Duke of Sussex is being honored at this year's 21st annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards in Beverley Hills.

“To be honest, I think it's a bit needy. Maybe the organizers of these awards ceremonies know that if they give them an award, they will come, but there is something slightly pathetic about it,” Mr Eden said.

Speaking to the Daily Mail's Royal Editor at Large Richard Kay and presenter Jo Elvin, Mr Eden added that he did a 'double take' when he heard the news of Harry's award.

Although Harry “knows how to fly a helicopter”, it is currently “not clear to Mr Eden why he is receiving this award”.

Prince Harry undertook two tours of duty in Afghanistan as a forward air controller and as an Apache helicopter pilot.

His work as a British Army veteran and pilot will be honored at this year's 21st annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards.

The decorated event – ​​hosted by John Travolta this Friday in Beverly Hills, California – will see the royal family inaugurated alongside other space icons including Fred George and Steve Hinton.

It is understood that his work in establishing the Invictus Games Foundation will also be celebrated, according to the awards' website. It is not clear whether Harry or his wife Meghan Markle, 42, will attend the ceremony.

For Richard, the award is just the latest in a long list for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

He joked: 'The great thing about Harry and Meghan's move to California is that they seem to be decorated with awards, and every now and then there's another one.'

Elsewhere in this week's episode, the royal experts discussed Princess Anne's tour of Sri Lanka and praised the princess for carrying her own luggage off the plane.

“Isn't she wonderful…that's quintessential Princess Anne, hands-on,” said Richard Kay.

The Duke of Sussex will be honored at this year's 21st annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards. He is pictured above on the British-controlled flight line at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan's Helmand province, where he served as an Apache helicopter pilot in 2013.

It is unclear whether the royal family will attend the glitzy ceremony in Beverley Hills to receive the awards. Harry is pictured above learning to fly the Squirrel helicopter at the Defense Helicopter Flying School in 2009

Princess Anne was welcomed to Sri Lanka with a dazzling performance by traditional dancers – and carried some of her bags off the plane.

The Princess Royal, 73, had a bag in each hand and a handbag as she walked down the steps of the plane at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake.

She will be joined by her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, 68, for a three-day visit to celebrate Britain's ties with the South Asian island.

The Princess is visiting the country at the request of the Foreign Office and will embark on a tour to mark Britain's bilateral ties with the nation, including a meeting later with President Ranil Wickremesinghe and First Lady Maithree Wickremesinghe.

Anne's practical approach to the trip impressed this week's Palace Confidential experts.

“It's a classic example of her wanting to get on with the royal business without the nonsense that other royals insist on,” said Richard Kay.

Jo Elvin concluded: 'Long live Anne, don't mess with Anne, I always say'.