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Crowds gathered in the rain to watch the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend a New York gala where they will be honored for their racial justice and mental health work.
Harry and Meghan will be recognized by the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights (RFKHR) organization, along with other dignitaries including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Members of the public took photos and videos of the couple as they arrived at the New York Hilton Midtown Hotel on Tuesday.
Meghan wore a shoulder-less white dress with long sleeves, and the couple smiled at the crowd before posing on the event’s blue carpet.
They will be presented with the Ripple of Hope Award, which honors exemplary leaders across government, business, advocacy and entertainment.
According to the RFKHR, the honorees are those who have “demonstrated an unwavering commitment to social change and work to protect and advance justice, equity and human rights”.
The 2022 event will be hosted by Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin.
It comes just hours before the start of the couple’s tell-all Netflix show, which is set to begin streaming on Thursday.
The royal family is bracing itself for the bombshell revelation, with Harry warning of a “hierarchy in the family”, a “dirty game”, and “we know the whole truth”.
RFKHR president Kerry Kennedy said the Sussexes were “incredibly brave” in tackling issues of racial justice and mental illness.
Mrs. Kennedy, who is the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, said she was “proud” to honor them at the event.
“They stood up, they spoke out about racial justice and they spoke out about mental illness in a way that was incredibly brave,” she told US outlet Extra on the event’s blue carpet.
“There has been a huge spike in this world in the wake of Covid… people around the world have said they have anxiety and massive depression.
“For Meghan to appear on national television and normalize the discussion about mental health, at this point, is incredibly important and very brave.
“So I’m very proud.”
In addition to Harry and Meghan, those to be recognized at the RFKHR event include Frank Baker, co-founder and managing partner of Siris, Brian Moynihan, chair of the board and CEO of Bank of America, and Michael Polsky, founder and CEO of InvEnergy.
The ceremony will recognize NBA legend and civil rights icon Bill Russell with a posthumous award.