Human rights award for Sussexes’ stand on ‘racism in monarchy’
THE Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to be honoured with a human rights award for taking a stand against “structural racism” in the monarchy.
The couple will receive the Ripple of Hope award on Dec 6 at a glittering gala ceremony in New York that honours “exemplary leaders” who have demonstrated “an unwavering commitment” to social change.
The annual event is organised by the
Robert F Kennedy Human Rights foundation, named after President John F Kennedy’s younger brother, who was assassinated in 1968.
It will be hosted by Kerry Kennedy, president Kennedy’s niece, who said the Duke and Duchess will receive the award for having the courage to challenge the Royal family’s “power structure”. She said the couple had been “heroic” by standing up against such an ancient institution.
The Sussexes are expected to attend the ceremony, where other award recipients will include Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine.
Ms Kennedy told Spanish news website El Confidencial that during a visit to South Africa in 1966 her father had spoken about the problems in getting people to talk about racial justice.
“He also spoke of moral courage, saying that few would have the courage to question their colleagues, family and community about the power structure they maintained,” she said.
“And this is what Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have done.” Ms Kennedy, a lawyer and human rights activist, added: “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, 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.”
Previous winners of the Ripple of Hope award include former president Barack Obama, as well as Bono, the U2 frontman and Desmond Tutu.
Prof David Nasaw, author of Pulitzer Prize-nominated book The Patriarch, about John and Robert’s father Joseph Kennedy, said he found the idea the Sussexes had been honoured with the award “somewhere between sublimely ridiculous and blatantly ludicrous.” He has been quoted as saying: “What in God’s name have they done to merit this? What percentage of Harry and Meghan’s wealth is going to worthy causes?”
Robert Kennedy Jr has also described it as “a bewildering choice”.
The gala will take place four days after the Prince and Princess of Wales attend the Earthshot prize in Boston.
Caroline Kennedy, President Kennedy’s daughter, will host the ceremony at the JFK Library Foundation.