The Duchess of Sussex has received a Woman of Vision award as she and the Duke of Sussex made their first public appearance since the King’s coronation.
Meghan encouraged women to fight for equity as she accepted the award at the Ms. Foundation for Women’s annual gala.
“It’s never too late to start,” she said at the event in New York. “You can be the visionary of your own life… There is still so much work to be done.”
The award from America’s oldest women’s foundation recognised her “global advocacy to empower and advocate on behalf of women and girls”.
Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland also attended.
Meghan told the audience how Ms. Magazine, a feminist magazine co-founded by Gloria Steinem, was always in their house when she was growing up.
She was presented with the award by Steinem, a renowned journalist and feminist activist.
“I am a woman who remains inspired and driven by this organisation,” Meghan said.
“It allowed me to recognise that part of my greater value and purpose in life was to advocate for those who felt unheard, to stand up to injustice, and to not be afraid of saying what is true and what is just and what is right.”
The event was the first public event Meghan and Prince Harry had attended since the King’s coronation but she did not reference the ceremony in her speech.
Harry flew to London for the ceremony but caught a flight back to LA hours later so he could be at his son Archie’s fourth birthday.
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Meghan wore a gold jacquard dress to the event, which she entered through the back entrance via a Hertz rental car area.
The colour of the dress and the branding of the car hire company prompted #hertzdress to trend on Twitter.
She also wore Princess Diana’s diamond tennis bracelet and her signature Cartier “love” bracelet, according to WhatMeghanWore.net.
Black Voters Matter co-founder LaTosha Brown also received a Woman of Vision award at the gala.
The event comes amid several High Court trials involving the Harry in the UK.
He is attempting to bring a second legal challenge against the Home Office over his security arrangements when in the UK.
He is also taking legal action against the publisher of the Daily Mirror newspaper in a civil trial.