GQ Men of the Year Awards: Prince Harry makes vaccine plea at star-studded ceremony

The British royal called for vaccine equality during an appearance at the awards show, attended by Idris Elba, Ed Sheeran and more

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Prince Harry used his surprise appearance at the GQ Men of the Year Awards to highlight the "huge disparity" in access to Covid-19 vaccines across the globe.

The British royal, 36, delivered a speech remotely from his California home at the glitzy bash, held at the Tate Modern in London on Wednesday night.

The Duke of Sussex presented an award to the team behind the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, using his address to urge governments to do more to vaccinate people in less developed and less financially stable countries.

Scroll through the gallery above to see all the red carpet photos from the GQ Men of the Year Awards 2021.

"Until every community can access the vaccine, and until every community is connected to trustworthy information about the vaccine, then we are all at risk," Prince Harry said.

GQ magazine named Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert, Dr Catherine Green and the entire team at Oxford who developed the vaccine as its Heroes of the Year.

"The Oxford team have done their part. They are heroes of the highest order who gave us an instrument to fight this disease. They are our nation's pride, and we are deeply indebted to their service," Prince Harry said.

The night also honoured One Night in Miami ... star Kingsley Ben-Adir, who was named Breakthrough Actor of the Year, Sir Anthony Hopkins, who was given the Legend Award, and the Icon Prize went to Borat actor Sacha Baron Cohen.

The event, hosted by Idris Elba and his wife, Sabrina Dhowre Elba, drew stars including Ellie Goulding, Ed Sheeran, Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams and James Norton to the red carpet.

Director Quentin Tarantino, who won Writer of the Year, was also in attendance, as was Bridgerton star Rege-Jean Page, who won Standout Performance of the Year.

The event, which last year was held virtually owing to coronavirus-related restrictions, named Line of Duty's Adrian Dunbar Television Actor of the Year, WandaVision star Paul Bettany Leading Man of the Year, and Sheeran Solo Artist of the Year. Further musical accolades went to Band of the Year Wolf Alice and Breakthrough Music Artist of the Year Arlo Parks.

The fashion and lifestyle magazine gave the 2021 crown of Designer of the Year to Brunello Cucinelli, while Vivienne Westwood was awarded Game Changer of the Year.

Additional reporting by Reuters

Updated: September 02, 2021, 8:34 AM