Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have won an award for their work on racial justice, mental health and causes that have a positive social effect.
They royal couple also received praise for their “moral courage” .
The Robert F Kennedy Human Rights organisation has named the Duke and Duchess of Sussex its Ripple of Hope Award laureates for the work they do through their Archewell Foundation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also been honoured this year.
The award is given to those judged to be exemplary leaders across government, business, advocacy or entertainment, and who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to social change and worked to protect and advance equity, justice, and human rights.
The organisation is named after Robert F Kennedy, a US attorney general and senator who was the brother of president John F Kennedy.
It aims to realise Kennedy’s dream of a more just and peaceful world since his assassination in 1968.
Prince Harry and Meghan through the years - in pictures
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Doria Ragland, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend the Ms Foundation Women of Vision Awards in New York City. Getty -
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies in Los Angeles in April. Getty -
The royal couple speak onstage at the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala in New York in December 2022. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan watch as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is placed into the hearse following the state funeral service at Westminster Abbey in central London in September 2022. AP -
Prince Harry and Meghan pay their respects at the Palace of Westminster. Getty -
Prince Harry, Meghan and Kate, Princess of Wales, attend a service for the reception of Queen Elizabeth's coffin at Westminster Hall. AFP -
The Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince Harry and Meghan meet members of the public outside Windsor Castle. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan leave after a service of thanksgiving for the queen. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York in September 2021. AP -
Prince Harry and Meghan on the cover of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world edition, in September 2021. Reuters -
Prince Harry and Meghan are interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. Reuters -
Prince Harry and Meghan shared this image on social media in February 2021 to announce they were expecting their second child. AFP -
Prince Harry and Meghan visit Canada House, London, in January 2020. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan visit Auwal Mosque on Heritage Day during their royal tour of South Africa in September 2019. Getty -
Prince Harry, Meghan and their son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor in South Africa in September 2019. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan meet Beyonce Knowles-Carter and Jay-Z at the European Premiere of Disney's The Lion King at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, London, in July 2019. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan pose for a photo with the New York Yankees before their baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at London Stadium in June 2019. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan pose with their newborn son Archie in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle in May 2019. Getty -
Meghan, joined by her mother Ms Ragland, shows her new son to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle in May 2019. AP -
Prince Harry and Meghan officially open Number 7, a Feeding Birkenhead citizen’s supermarket and community cafe in Merseyside in January 2019. Getty -
Prince William, the Princess of Wales, Meghan and Prince Harry attend a Christmas Day church service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate in December 2018. Getty -
Prince William, Prince Harry, Meghan and the Duchess of Cambridge attend a service marking the centenary of the First World War armistice at Westminster Abbey in November 2018. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan visit Redwoods Tree Walk in October 2018 in Rotorua, New Zealand. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan visit an exhibition of Tongan handicrafts at the Fa'onelua Convention Centre in October 2018 in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan visit the University of the South Pacific in October 2018 in Suva, Fiji. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan address the public during a Community Event at Victoria Park in October 2018 in Dubbo, Australia. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan meet a koala during a visit to Taronga Zoo in October 2018 in Sydney, Australia. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan arrive at the University of Chichester's Engineering and Digital Technology Park during an official visit to West Sussex in October 2018. Getty -
The queen, Meghan, Prince Harry, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge watch the RAF 100th anniversary fly-past from the balcony of Buckingham Palace in July 2018. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan on their wedding day in May 2018. Getty -
Prince Harry places a wedding ring on his new wife's finger. Getty -
Meghan and Prince Harry head to their evening wedding reception at Frogmore House. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan walk through the corridors of the Palace of Holyroodhouse on their way to a reception for young people at the Palace in February 2018 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Getty -
Prince Harry and his then-fiancee Meghan visit Nottingham for their first official public engagement together in December 2017. Getty
“The couple has always stood out for their willingness to speak up and change the narrative on racial justice and mental health around the world," president Kerry Kennedy said of the Sussexes.
“They embody the type of moral courage that my father once called the ‘one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change’.”
Prince Harry and Meghan were chosen because they have “demonstrated a lifelong commitment to building strong and equitable communities, advancing the global dialogue around mental health, and advocating for a better world – both on and offline,” the organisers said.
Prince William, Prince Harry and wives make joint appearance - in pictures
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Britain's William, Prince of Wales, second left, his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, left, along with Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, look at floral tributes as they walk outside Windsor Castle. Reuters -
Left to right: The Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex at Windsor Castle. AFP -
The royals meet people outside Windsor Castle. AP -
Walking together outside Windsor Castle. Reuters -
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are staying at Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate, just a stone's throw from Prince William and his wife Kate's new home, Adelaide Cottage. PA -
The royals speak and shake hands with different sides of the cheering crowds. AP -
A pause to look at floral tributes laid by members of the public on the Long Walk at Windsor Castle. AFP -
Prince Harry points at a floral tribute. Reuters -
In his first speech as king on Friday, Charles, 73, spoke of his love for his second son and daughter-in-law. AP -
The two couples had last been seen together at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in 2020. Reuters
Since co-founding the Archewell Foundation in 2020, the couple have found “remarkable ways” to advance their “mission to uplift and unite communities”, the citation said.
The organisation highlighted causes that Prince Harry and Meghan have backed, including supporting Afghan refugees seeking resettlement, and paid parental leave in the US.
They have invested in organisations working in Ukraine and linked up with the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People to create the first digital civil rights award.
Prince Harry and Meghan attend One Young World 2022 Manchester Summit - in pictures
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Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, at the annual One Young World summit at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, north-west England, on Monday. AFP -
Prince Harry and Meghan applaud as the flag of the Refugee Nation is carried during the opening ceremony of the One Young World summit in Manchester. Reuters -
Meghan addresses the One Young World Summit. AP -
Meghan addresses the One Young World Summit. AP -
Meghan addresses the One Young World Summit. AP -
Meghan addresses the One Young World Summit. AP -
Musician and activist Bob Geldof speaks at the summit. AP -
Meghan listens to Prince Harry at the summit's opening ceremony. AFP -
Meghan and Prince Harry at the opening ceremony. AFP -
Prince Harry and Meghan at the One Young World summit. Reuters -
Meghan and Britain's Prince Harry applaud at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. AFP -
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are welcomed to the opening ceremony of the One Young World summit. Reuters -
British poet Lemn Sissay addresses the opening ceremony. AP
They were also praised for their work with the World Health Organisation, People’s Vaccine and Global Citizen groups to champion coronavirus vaccine access globally and raise funds to buy doses for frontline health workers.
Prince Harry and Meghan join a host of high-profile powerful figures who have won the award, including former US presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, and current President Joe Biden and his Vice President Kamala Harris.
Prince Harry and Meghan attend UN Nelson Mandela event - in pictures
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Prince Harry and his wife Meghan arrive at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Monday. AP -
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend the UN Nelson Mandela Prize award ceremony in New York. AFP -
The UN holds its annual celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day at its headquarters in New York. AP -
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan greet Guinea’s Foreign Minister Morissanda Kouate. AFP -
The 2020 UN Nelson Mandela Prize is being awarded to Marianna Vardinoyannis of Greece and Dr Morissanda Kouyate of Guinea. AFP -
Royal applause at the UN Nelson Mandela Prize award ceremony. AFP -
Prince Harry addresses the UN General Assembly during the annual celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day in New York City. AFP -
He spoke about the legacy and inspiration of the South African anti-apartheid leader who spent 27 years in a remote South African prison before becoming the president and first black leader of the country. AFP -
Prince Harry leaves the podium after his rousing speech. AFP -
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan leave the UN Nelson Mandela Prize award ceremony. AFP
Also recognised in past years have been Anglican bishop and Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu, Apple chief executive Tim Cook, actor George Clooney, Irish musician Bono, American footballer Colin Kaepernick, US politicians Stacey Abrams and John Lewis, and Dr Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviserr to Donald Trump and Mr Biden.
