MEGHAN Markle welled up while accepting a gong at a glitzy New York gala in front of "unbelievably proud" Prince Harry, guests said.
The Duchess of Sussex was presented with the 2023 Women of Vision Award by pal Gloria Steinem at the Ms Foundation event last night.
Meghan donned a tight-fitting gold dress for the gala and was joined by Harry and her mum Doria Ragland.
Guests said the duchess "became emotional" during the presentation at New York City's Ziegfeld Ballroom.
She gave an "authentic" speech about issues that mattered to her as she accepted the award from feminist icon Steinem, who was on stage.
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Guest Paul Didonato said: "Meghan was very gracious and beyond articulate. She was quite wonderful.
"She did become emotional. Seeing her on stage with Gloria Steinem felt like it was a cross generational moment."
In a clip from the event shared by Town and Country writer Emily Burack, Meghan could be heard telling her audience: "You can be the visionary of your own life."
She went on: "You can charter a path in which what you repeat in your daily acts of service, in kindness, in advocacy, in grace and in fairness, that those become the very things that are recognized by the next wave of women, both young and old, who will also choose this moment to join the movement, and make our vision for an equitable world, reality."
Another guest said that Harry and Meghan’s mother "looked unbelievably proud".
Speaking outside, Steinem said: "It was very moving, historic and funny. It was a unique night."
It is her first public event since she missed out on King Charles III's coronation on May 6 - with Harry going to the celebration alone.
Last night, Meghan arrived with Prince Harry and her mother Doria through the entrance to a Hertz car rental shop.
Harry got out wearing a dark suit and Meghan wore a stunning £1,481 gold Johanna Ortiz dress, similarly priced metallic Tom Ford heels, and held an £880 bag.
She accessorised the look with several diamond bracelets and a Cartier piece valued at around £5,890.
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Her mother opted for a black dress, bag and shoes with her hair worn in an elegant up-do.
The trio were then seen beaming as they posed for pictures on the event's black carpet.
The 41-year-old is being recognised for her work fighting for women's rights.
The Ms Foundation's annual gala marks part of the organisation's 50th-anniversary celebration.
Legendary feminist Steinem - who is also a pal of Meghan's - presented the duchess with the award for “her global advocacy to empower and advocate on behalf of women and girls.”
Abortion rights activist Olivia Julianna is also set to be honoured, alongside Wanda Irving, the co-founder of maternal health charity Dr Shalon’s Maternal Action Project.
Another leading lady to be awarded for her inspiration work is Kimberly Inez McGuire, the executive director of gender equality charity URGE.
Teresa C. Younger, Ms Foundation president and CEO, said in a statement that these powerful female figures are to be celebrated for “their many accomplishments and tireless work on behalf of gender and racial equity across the country and the world.”
The Brooklyn-based organization, Ms Foundation, aims to spotlight the obstacles of women.
Tickets to the prestigious gala set guests back around £1,200, while a table is priced at £12,000, with funds going towards continuing the foundation's success in helping disadvantaged women.
Steinem is a well-known friend of Meghan, after the two bonded when the duchess left her royal duties behind in 2020.
The journalist and activist previously described the duchess as "smart, authentic, funny, political", when speaking to Access.
Meghan and Prince Harry's Archewell Foundation recently donated £2.5million — $3million — from the £10.5million raised in its first year of operation.
Funds were donated to good causes including refugee resettlement and humanitarian relief centres, the charity announced.
It featured grants towards procuring millions of Covid vaccinations and a guide to embrace “positive masculinity”.
Money also went to campaigns for fair vaccine access in “low and middle-income countries” in Africa, South America and Asia — plus the UK and US — the report stated.
This comes weeks after King Charles' coronation, which saw Meghan stay in the US for son Archie's fourth birthday party.
Harry made a brief 24 hour stop in the UK, but was seen leaving the ceremony celebrations quickly to head to the airport.
King Charles was reportedly disappointed his son did not make it to The Big Lunch on Sunday, according to an inside source.
