Definitely doesn’t seem to be linked solely to technical skill. Previous honorees include Jeff Bezos, William Shatner, Angelina Jolie, Senator Jim inhoffe, Jim Lovell and Neil Armstrong.
Bezos’ girlfriend Lauren Sanchez is also an honoree this year.
Harrison Ford and Tom Cruise are legends.
Anyone who can fly the Millennium Falcon deserves the award. 
I respect the opinions of those who serve.
I respect your right to feel that Prince Harry is undeserving of this honor.
I do take issue with the last sentence. “I wonder how much he paid for that honor.” It seems unkind…unless you have authoritative proof there was an exchange of money. If so, please share.
Somebody is a big fan of Piers Morgan and the Daily Mail.
The late Queen was so upset at Prince Harry and Meghan naming their daughter Lilibet that she told aides they had taken the only thing she owned, it has been claimed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s spokesperson said the couple chose the name after seeking permission from the late monarch, and would not have done so if she had objected.
The name was a childhood nickname of Queen Elizabeth and also used as an affectionate nickname by her husband Prince Philip throughout their relationship.
However, according to excerpts from royal biographer Robert Hardman’s new book, published in the Daily Mail, the late monarch was so upset at the naming choice that she told aides: “I don’t own the palaces, I don’t own the paintings, the only thing I own is my name. And now they’ve taken that.”
Yes, she owned nothing. Poor queen. 
Good lord. I have news for her. She doesn’t own the name. So be happy your grandkid cares enough to honor you. What a messed up family.
Well in fairness Queen Elizabeth was only $500,000,000 away from being homeless, the poor thing. And she really didn’t own a thing except for a few Fabergé eggs and some Monets and horses and jewelry and rare stamps and wads and wads of cash and investments.
That piece sounded like something The Onion might write 
It isn’t actually an honor, just a tribute given by something called Kiddie Hawk Academy to those encouraging children’s interest in aviation or space. Many actors are awardees and presumably pay the high prices to purchase tables at the gala in their honor. It isn’t sponsored by the usual powerhouses in the aerospace industry or any government entity. This year’s honorees include a rich Saudi prince. While they may not pay for the honor, I expect the awardees often make substantial contributions to the Academy.
Pretty clever fundraising idea by this nonprofit.
lol - so unbelievable. In the cooperatively written biography Elizabeth, the Queen considered the naming of her great granddaughter as a compliment. And seriously, what great grandmother wouldn’t?
I agree. Plus, Harry has said time and time again how much he loved and respected her. Meghan has written how good the Queen was to her. I highly doubt they’d do anything like that to tick her off. I really don’t. This is what Harry keeps telling us that the media does to them.
None of us will know the truth. IMO it would have been nice to ask the Queen in advance but I hope the name was given with the best of intentions.
Their spokesman said they DID ask the Queen in advance. So who knows?
I believe them when they say they asked, but honestly, who cares? Oh the horror, naming a baby after her great grandmother without asking permission!
You would have to be pretty low-life parents to give your child a name for life for the purpose of spite or alterior motive. You can not like Harry/Meghan but sure would hope no one would think they would be those parents.
Even if they didn’t ask, I would think the name was chosen with admiration of some sort.
Well there are names and pet names, which are very different. I doubt this would have come up if they’d wanted to use Elizabeth (or a different variant like Lilly). But spouse has a childhood name, analogous to Lilibet, given by her father, which no one else can use (I was eventually allowed to use it on occasion, but only in private, after we were married, which sounds like what happened with the Duke of Edinburgh). It would be completely unacceptable for our kids to use it for a grandchild, and frankly they wouldn’t even dream of doing so.
And as far as asking goes, British people are way too polite to give a direct no. Not saying yes is supposed to be good enough. Note that H&M’s statement was that they would have chosen something else if the Queen had objected, not that she approved.
Or you can not understand the cultural issues at play. As George Bernard Shaw pointed out: ‘England and America are two countries divided by a common language’. Particularly with regard to asking/granting approval. But also with regard to family names, where John Doe Jr and John Doe III cause British people much mirth (do Americans have no imagination?). In the U.K. family names (sometimes old surnames) are used as middle names (having two middle initials is a common sign of being upper class), but it is rare to see a first name being reused for a child or grandchild.
Honor versus tribute? That’s just quibbling over semantics to me.
I do agree with this sentiment. Prince Harry’s popularity…though I’m sure his detractors will say notoriety…is seen as a positive by the nonprofit. It is this position that seems to irk those who try desperately to denigrate everything Harry and Meghan do.
H&M seem to firmly take guidance from Oscar Wilde, “There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”
Reminds me of Ted Baxter getting ‘Man of the Year’ awards, from the YoYo club, from other groups with no significance but it made him feel good.
More importantly, it should secure a solid 5 figure donation to the charity from the Sussex couple, which is the actual purpose of this gala. Each awardee is expected to donate. A lot.