Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said they were “incredibly proud” as they made a joint video display for an important cause over the weekend.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who made a surprise two-day visit to Jordan last week, are celebrating five years of the NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award, which honours those championing civil and human rights online. A video of the couple was shown at the 57th Annual NAACP Image Awards in LA, where the awards were presented.
Meghan, 44, looked radiant as she dressed in a white high roll-neck jumper, while Harry, 41, wore a smart suit and white shirt, though he went without a tie for a down-to-earth look.
In the clip, the couple said they launched the awards five years ago because the “right for civil rights didn’t end at the doorstep of the digital world” but instead “begins there”. Meghan added: “We are incredibly proud of our partnership with NAACP and what this award represents, that civil rights must evolve as fast as the technology that threatens them.”
This year’s award went to Dr Mary Anne Franks, for her “genuinely inspiring” and “groundbreaking” work as a legal scholar and author of Fearless Speech: Breaking Free from the First Amendment, a powerful work discussing freedom of speech, and the responsibilities that come with it.
“When powerful people and powerful platforms claim to champion free speech, whose freedom are they actually protecting?” Harry asked. The couple said it was an “honour” to announce the prize and sent their joint “congratulations” to Dr Franks.
© Getty Images for NAACPPrince Harry and Meghan Markle are seen onscreen during the NAACP Image Awards Creative Honors
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said previously: “When we founded this award with the NAACP, we wanted to highlight and uplift people across the country who are transforming the digital world for the better.” In 2022, Harry and Meghan were named as recipients of the prestigious NAACP President’s Award, which recognises special achievement and distinguished public service.
Harry and Meghan’s ‘new chapter’
The video was made on behalf of Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Philanthropies, which was renamed at the end of last year as the couple announced a “new chapter”. Previously, it was known as the Archewell Foundation and is home to their charitable work.
© PA Images via Getty ImagesThe Duke and Duchess of Sussex during a visit to the QuestScope Youth Center
A spokesperson for the couple stated: “After five beautiful years, the Archewell Foundation is becoming Archewell Philanthropies. This charitable entity allows the couple and their children to expand upon their global philanthropic endeavors as a family.
“This next chapter allows Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to broaden their global philanthropic efforts as a family, with meaningful reach and maximum impact, grounded in the same values, partnerships, and their commitment to show up and do good.”
The video even featured a rare glimpse of the couple’s children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, who were on hand to volunteer at Our Big Kitchen in Los Angeles, close to the family home in Montecito, also in California.