Harry and Meghan honored with Ripple of Hope award for fighting racism; later denial of calling royals racist

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were honored in New York in October 2022 with the Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award, recognizing their advocacy on racial justice and mental health and their challenge to what observers described as structural racism within the British royal family. The award is presented by the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization to figures who have shown a sustained commitment to social change and the advancement of equity and human rights.

At a gala on December 6, 2022, the couple accepted the Ripple of Hope honor alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Kerry Kennedy, daughter of the late U.S. senator who bore RFK’s name, said in a statement that Meghan and Harry had "always stood out for their willingness to speak up and change the narrative on racial justice and mental health" and praised their "moral courage" for taking on entrenched authority. The Ripple of Hope recognition has previously been awarded to prominent political figures, including former presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Joe Biden, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris, underscoring the prize’s linkage to public figures who have pursued social change and human rights.

The New York gala came two days before the release of the couple’s Netflix docuseries, intensifying global attention on their portrayal of life within the British royal household and its handling of race-related issues. The award presentation framed the moment as part of a broader arc in which Meghan and Harry positioned themselves as vocal critics of structural racism within The Firm and as advocates for mental health and inclusion, a stance that has sustained public scrutiny since their decision to step back from official royal duties.

Days after the New York event, critics and commentators revisited the couple’s public narrative amid renewed controversy over how their remarks had been framed. In January 2023, during a televised interview with ITV’s Tom Bradby while promoting his memoir Spare, Harry said he did not call the royal family racist. "No I didn’t," he said when pressed about allegations that he had accused members of the family of racism, adding that the remarks about Archie’s skin color had been framed as part of a discussion about unconscious bias. The exchange highlighted a key dispute over language and intent and prompted broader debate about whether the couple had corrected the record promptly.

Harry argued that his critique centered on unconscious bias rather than overt prejudice, saying that acknowledging bias was a step toward learning and growth. He also cited what he described as a missed opportunity to implement reforms within the monarchy, such as appointing a diversity lead, as part of his broader argument that the institution should modernize to remain relevant in the 21st century.

The remarks and the surrounding coverage drew criticism from some royal commentators who argued that Harry’s comments during the Bradby interview amounted to a public airing of a family dispute. Jennie Bond, a former BBC royal correspondent, described the situation as unforgivable for some critics who believed the interview conditioned audiences to view the royal family through a lens of racism. Other observers, including royal biographers and ITV’s Chris Ship, noted that while the couple did not explicitly label the family as racist in the Oprah Winfrey interview, they did not directly challenge the wider narrative about racism either, leaving room for interpretation and further debate.

The Oprah Winfrey interview, which had aired years earlier, is frequently cited in discussions about race and the royal family, including Meghan’s account of concerns raised within the palace about how dark her son Archie might be before his birth. Those remarks amplified a global conversation about race, belonging, and the responsibilities of national institutions to confront bias. Harry’s subsequent public comments on unconscious bias and modernization continued to shape how audiences interpret the couple’s larger critique of royal tradition and governance.

In the aftermath of these developments, the Ripple of Hope award remained a focal point for both supporters who saw the recognition as validation of Meghan and Harry’s advocacy and critics who argued that public commentary should not undermine family privacy or the monarchy’s integrity. The dynamic underscored the broader, ongoing international interest in how race, power, and accountability intersect within prominent families and public institutions, a story that continues to unfold across chapters of interviews, memoirs, and documentary work.