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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Matthew Dresch

Meghan Markle and Harry to accept award for stance against 'racism' in Royal Family

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to accept an award for standing up to "structural racism" in the Royal Family.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have won the prestigious Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award for challenging the The Firm's "power structure".

John F Kennedy's niece Kerry Kennedy, who is set to host the awards, said the pair took a brave stance against the royals, knowing they would be ostracised as a result.

It comes after Harry and Meghan made bombshell clams about racism within the Royal Family during an explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey.

The pair alleged a senior royal made a racist comment about the skin colour of their then unborn son Archie.

Prince William was forced to defend the monarchy after the interview, telling reporters "we are very much not a racist family".

The royal couple are being honoured for taking a "heroic stand" against The Firm (Getty Images)

Buckingham Palace also issued a statement on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II following the interview, saying: "While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately."

The award has divided opinion with Kerry Kennedy branding Meghan and Harry's sit-down interview a "heroic stand".

She told El Confidencial : "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.

"They knew that if they did this there would be consequences, that they would be ostracised, they would lose their family, their position within this structure, and that people would blame them for it.

“They have done it anyway because they believed they couldn’t live with themselves if they didn’t question this authority. I think they have been heroic in taking this step.”

However Robert F Kennedy Jr, Kerry's brother, described the decision to hand Harry and Meghan the award as "bewildering".

Prince William said "we are very much not a racist family" after Harry's Oprah interview (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to receive the award at the Ripple of Hope Gala in New York on December 6.

Tickets to the gala are selling for up to £840,000.

The top-tier 'Pioneer' package includes four seats at the main table where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to be also seated.

Other packages cost £420,000 and include VIP reception access.

The event is organised by the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organisation.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will receive the award from the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights organisation (The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images)

Previous winners have included US President Joe Biden and ex-POTUSs Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, as well former Democratic hopefuls Hilary Clinton and Al Gore.

Hollywood actor and producer Alec Baldwin will oversee the gala.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and Bill Russell, a basketball great and civil rights icon, will both also be honoured.

Four days earlier, Prince William and Kate Middleton will be in Boston attending the Earthshot prize.

It also has links to the Kennedys, with the Prince of Wales having teamed up with JFK's daughter Caroline to hand out five £840,000 grants at the invitation-only do.

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