Meghan Markle made a surprise appearance at the ESPY Awards on Thursday to support Prince Harry as he received the 2024 Pat Tillman Award for Service. An emotional Duke of Sussex expressed his “deepest gratitude” to the Pat Tillman Foundation, named in honor of the late NFL star and US Army Ranger, and recognized Tillman’s mother, who was initially “shocked” by the decision to bestow Harry with the award. She told the Daily Mail that the prize should have gone to someone with less “privilege.”

“I’d like to acknowledge the Tillman family, especially Mrs. Mary Tillman, Pat’s mother. Advocacy for Pat’s legacy is deeply personal, and one that I respect,” said Harry, with Meghan proudly looking on from the audience. “The bond between a mother and a son is eternal and transcends even the greatest losses.”

Harry was given the award in recognition of his work with the Invictus Games, a Paralympic-style competition he founded in 2014 for wounded veterans and service members, after serving for 10 years in the British army. Past Pat Tillman Award recipients Sergeant Kirstie Ennis, Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks, and Senior Master Sergeant Israel Del Toro took the stage to present Harry with the special honor.

“The truth is, I stand here not as Prince Harry, Pat Tillman Award recipient, but rather a voice on behalf of the Invictus Games Foundation and the thousands of veterans and service personnel from over 20 nations who have made the Invictus Games a reality,” the duke said in his acceptance speech. “This award belongs to them. Not to me.”

He went on to speak about the division and conflicts around the world that are fueled by a lack of understanding for people who are different. He praised the Invictus Games for their ability to bring people together around courage and mutual respect, and said that the games have reduced the number of veteran suicides in the last decade. “Our community proves that unity is not just possible, but formidable,” he said.

The annual ESPY ceremony commemorates the past year in sports by recognizing major athletic achievements, reliving unforgettable moments, and saluting the leading performers and performances. Tennis star Serena Williams hosted this year’s show, the 32nd, held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

About five minutes before the taping began on Thursday night, Harry, dressed in a black suit, and Meghan, in an elegant white Staud halter gown, emerged from a side door inside the Dolby Theatre auditorium and made a beeline to their front-row seats, holding hands. The ceremony began with a thrilling performance by Ciara, who sang a medley of her hit songs. As Ciara gyrated and the audience cheered and clapped, an impressed Meghan leaned into Harry and whispered something into his ear. The two smiled.

Williams graced the stage next for her opening monologue, delivering clever quips about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce reportedly spending $100,000 a day on their romance. She also took a few jabs at Will Smith for portraying her father in King Richard and slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars, and made a comedic reference to the feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Williams ended her monologue by joking that she didn’t want Harry and Meghan, the latter her longtime friend, to take attention away from her on her big night as host.

“Prince Harry and Meghan are here. Let’s give it up for them,” said Williams. “But please, Harry and Meghan, try not to breathe too much tonight, because this is my night. I don’t want to be overshadowed by the accusations that you guys are taking up too much oxygen, okay?” The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were seen on the auditorium’s large screens laughing at the joke.

Meghan and Williams have known each other since 2010, when they met at a Super Bowl event. They have since supported each other during fashion line launches, podcasts, polo matches—most recently April’s Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Florida—and Grand Slam tennis tournaments like Wimbledon and the US Open. Williams and her husband, Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian, attended Meghan and Harry’s 2018 nuptials.

“Full disclosure: I was very happy to be invited to their wedding, but I can’t say I know them that well,” Ohanian told Vanity Fair on the red carpet ahead of the ceremony. “Serena and Meghan are close. I’ve met them, and certainly every interaction we’ve had, it has just been awesome. He and Meghan are huge supporters of my wife, and that’s very important to me…. I’m looking forward to seeing them and seeing him win the award, and I’ll be clapping for him.”

During the first commercial break, Venus Williams arrived and greeted Harry and Meghan with a hug. She sat to the right of Harry; Meghan leaned over him to have a chat with Venus. Meanwhile, Ohanian, along with his and Serena’s six-year-old daughter, Olympia, sat one row behind the royals. Soon a cameraman walked over to the royals for a close-up shot, and Meghan greeted him with a fist bump. Harry followed with the same gesture.

After Harry received his award, Meghan joined him backstage. There, the couple met up with Serena and had an animated conversation while photographers snapped pictures. An hour later, the royals returned to their seats just in time to watch the host perform a musical number about her frenemy relationship with tennis star Maria Sharapova. Meghan clapped and laughed out loud as her friend sang. She even gasped when Serena showed off a provocative dance move and said she and Sharapova were “like the guys from Challengers, but way more hot.”

With 30 minutes left in the show, Meghan and Harry started to exit the theater early. She gave Ohanian a hug and said goodbye to Olympia and Venus. Harry took Meghan’s hand and led her out of the auditorium.

“[Prince Harry’s] very normal. Treat him like a normal person, and he gives everyone respect,” recalled ski champion and Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn during an interview on the red carpet. “He gives everyone the time of day. He’s a really nice guy and Meghan is incredible. I had a really great experience meeting them. They make a great couple and they really support each other.”