( CNN ) -- A Washington think tank celebrated Prince Harry on Monday night for his humanitarian efforts , with the British royal deflecting the praise by offering his own salute to wounded war veterans . Harry was among the guests of honor at the event marking the 50th anniversary of the Atlantic Council , which describes itself as a `` nonpartisan institution devoted to promoting transatlantic cooperation and international security . '' The grandson of Queen Elizabeth II arrived around 6:15 p.m. at the Washington Ritz-Carlton in a black tux , with photographers yelling his name and a few girls shrieking as he walked inside . Less than two hours later , former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell took the stage to formally present Prince Harry with the council 's Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership Award , an honor most recently bestowed on U2 frontman and activist Bono . Third in line to the British throne , Harry is a captain and Apache helicopter pilot in Britain 's Army Air Corps . Powell , himself a longtime soldier and one-time U.S. Joint Chiefs chairman , was quick to point that out . He also joked that thanks to the 27-year-old royal , `` We have a record number of young , single women attending ( the Atlantic Council awards dinner ) this year . More seriously , Powell cheered Harry -- like his brother , William -- for embracing `` the noble traditions of service to his country and to his fellow human beings . '' He singled out their work with veterans through Help for Heroes , Walking with the Wounded and other such programs . `` The loving effort that Princess Diana made to teach her sons the importance of serving others has touched ( their ) hearts and souls , '' said Powell . `` They have acted together in support of veterans ' charities ... and the impact of ( that ) work is already very , very significant . '' Harry then took the stage , admitting it was a `` truly humbling and a little terrifying '' to follow Powell and that he did not `` feel that I have done nearly enough to deserve '' the award . Still , he said he 'd accept it `` on behalf of my brother , William , our foundation ( and ) all those guys on both sides of the Atlantic who work so tirelessly to support our veterans . '' He paid special tribute to troops who have been scarred in one way or another while serving their nations , stressing the importance of giving them supporting well after they leave the battlefield . `` They have paid a terrible price to keep us safe and free , '' Harry said . `` The very least we owe them is to make sure that they and their brave families have everything they need through their darkest days -- and , in time , regain the hope and confidence to flourish again . `` For these selfless people , it ( is ) after the guns have fallen silent ( and ) the din of battle quieted that the real fight begins -- a fight that may last for the rest of their lives . '' Hours before the event , the prince met with injured soldiers at an event at the British Embassy in Washington . It is his first trip to the capital , although not to the United States . He went to the deserts of Arizona and California last year to take part in helicopter training . And it comes after William and his new wife , Catherine , the Duchess of Cambridge , were met with huge and enthusiastic crowds during their visit last year to the United States and Canada . In addition to Harry , U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon received the Atlantic Council 's Distinguished International Leadership Award , which was presented by another former U.S. secretary of state , Henry Kissinger . Others honored by the organization , which runs programs focused on security , cooperation , economics , the environment and which centers on the Middle East , Africa and Asia , were Unilever CEO Paul Polman and violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter .
NEW : Ban Ki-moon jokes Prince Harry 's presence draws `` record number of young , single women '' NEW : He receives Unilever Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership Award . NEW : The prince salutes troops who `` have paid a terrible price to keep us safe and free '' Others honored include U.N. Secretary-General Paul Polman , U.N. CEO Prince Harry 's .