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'Incredibly brave' Harry and Meghan praised for stance against 'structural racism in Royal family'

Meghan and Harry were named laureates of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope gala - Getty
Meghan and Harry were named laureates of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope gala - Getty

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been called “incredibly brave” for addressing racial injustice, as the couple received a human rights award at a gala in New York.

Kerry Kennedy, president of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Foundation, said she was "proud" to be honouring Meghan and Harry at its event on Tuesday night for their “heroic” stance against the “structural racism” of the Monarchy.  

"They've stood up, they've talked about racial justice and they've talked about mental illness in a way that was incredibly brave," said Ms Kennedy, daughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy. "For Meghan to get out there on national television and normalise discussion of mental health, at this point, is incredibly important and very brave.”

The Duke and Duchess were recognised for the Ripple of Hope award, alongside other honourees including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The pair held hands as they arrived at the Hilton - Getty
The pair held hands as they arrived at the Hilton - Getty

Tickets for the gala, which was hosted by actor Alec Baldwin, were being sold for up to $1 million each.

Meghan wore a shoulderless white dress with long sleeves, and the couple posed on the event's blue carpet. The duchess sported a blue ring that appeared to be an emerald-cut aquamarine, which once belonged to Princess Diana.

The enormous aquamarine was commissioned from British jeweller Asprey by the late Princess Diana in the early 1990s – and is understood to have been passed down to Prince Harry after his mother's passing in August 1997.

Meghan wore an off-the-shoulder Louis Vuitton dress - Getty
Meghan wore an off-the-shoulder Louis Vuitton dress - Getty
The Sussexes with Kerry Kennedy, Frank Baker and Michael Polsky - Getty
The Sussexes with Kerry Kennedy, Frank Baker and Michael Polsky - Getty

The couple was seen in affectionate embraces at their table during the event at the Hilton Midtown hotel.

According to the RFKHR, honourees are those who have demonstrated "an unwavering commitment to social change and worked to protect and advance equity, justice, and human rights". Previous recipients have included Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Ms Kennedy previously told Spanish news outlet El Confidencial's Vanitatis magazine that Prince Harry, 38, and Meghan, 41, exemplified the "moral courage" against injustice that her father famously called for in his iconic Ripple of Hope speech at the University of Cape Town in South Africa over 50 years ago when apartheid reigned.

Harry helped Meghan from the car before they walked the red carpet - Getty
Harry helped Meghan from the car before they walked the red carpet - Getty
Meghan's outfit also included Princess Diana's ring - Getty
Meghan's outfit also included Princess Diana's ring - Getty

"When my father went to South Africa in 1966, he spoke in front of a white audience and said that the problem in this generation is talking about racial justice. He also spoke of moral courage, saying that few would have the courage to question their colleagues, family and their community about the power structure they maintained," Ms Kennedy said, per a translation. "And this is what Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have done."

"They went to the oldest institution in UK history and told them what they were doing wrong, that they couldn't have structural racism within the institution; that they could not maintain a misunderstanding about mental health," she continued, referring to the British monarchy.

It comes just hours before the launch of the couple's tell-all Netflix show, which is due to begin streaming on Thursday.

The royal family is bracing itself for bombshell revelations, with Harry speaking of a "hierarchy in the family", a "dirty game", and warning "we know the full truth".

As well as Harry and Meghan, those due to be recognised at the RFKHR event include Frank Baker, co-founder and managing partner of Siris, Brian Moynihan, chair of the board and chief executive of Bank of America, and Michael Polsky, founder and chief executive of Invenergy.

Alec Baldwin and Hilaria Baldwin - Reuters
Alec Baldwin and Hilaria Baldwin - Reuters

Asked what he admired about Harry, Baldwin – who accidentally shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of his film Rust – told reporters that he appreciates how the prince “handles difficult circumstances with the press without having too much difficulty.’

“They obviously have chosen a different path, and good for them.”