Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to receive special award in California this weekend

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will accept the President's Award at the NAACP Image Awards on Saturday

Meghan and Harry to receive special award on Saturday
(Image credit: Getty)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will finally make their Hollywood red carpet debut at the NAACP Image Awards this weekend, where they will be honored with the prestigious President Award. 


Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will attend their first Hollywood event on Saturday to accept a prestigious accolade at the NAACP Image Awards—and we, for one, can't wait. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been chosen as the recipients of the annual prize-giving ceremony's President's Award, after impressing its organizers with their ongoing contribution to 'social justice' and 'equity both in the US and around the world'. 

The NAACP, or the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, has previously presented the lofty award to Rihanna, Condoleezza Rice, and Jay-Z.

In response to the exciting news, the royal couple said, "It’s a true honor to be recognized by President Derrick Johnson and the NAACP, whose efforts to propel racial justice and civil rights are as vital today as they were nearly 115 years ago." 

Harry and Meghan in New York 2021

(Image credit: Getty)

Their gracious statement comes shortly before Prince Harry and Meghan Markle issued a heartfelt message to the people of Ukraine amid the rising crisis. 

The Sussexes also confirmed that they have teamed up with the US-based civil rights group to establish the NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award. 

The annual award will recognize individuals making a positive difference in the digital space and thus advancing the cause of human rights. Honorees will receive a $100,000 stipend to fund their work and continue making an 'impact' in the field. This year's recipient of the award is Dr. Safiya Noble, a UCLA Professor who co-founded and co-directs of the UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made a number of positive contributions to social activism since their high-profile withdrawal from the Royal Family in January 2020. In April 2020, they launched their Archewell foundation, a nonprofit which promotes systematic societal change in both the US and across the world. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle speak during the 2021 Global Citizen Live festival at the Great Lawn, Central Park on September 25, 2021 in New York City.

(Image credit: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

In December, the couple revealed that the charity had donated to several important causes—including the Afghan refugee crisis—over the course of 2021. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have also shown off their commitment to helping others on the most unlikely of occasions, repeatedly using personal milestones to give back to society. 

In May, they made a special request on the birthday of their son, Archie, for fans to donate $5 to the international Covid vaccine fund. Just a few months later, Meghan celebrated her own birthday by launching the 40x40 initiative, a mentorship program to support women re-entering the workforce. 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.


Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.