Prince Harry proved he has settled into Hollywood life as he embraced the singer Jennifer Hudson in a behind-the-scenes snap from the NACCP awards.
The Duke of Sussex, 38, who lives in a $14m mansion in Montecito, California, joined his wife Meghan Markle, 40, to attend the NAACP awards on Saturday at Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
In snaps which have emerged on social media, and were shared by @_duchess_of_sussex, the royal can be seen beaming as he chats with the Dream Girls star backstage at the ceremony.
Saturday’s ceremony marked the couple’s first major Hollywood event since leaving the royal family as they rubbed shoulders with host Anthony Anderson and dozens of A-listers.
It comes weeks after photos emerged of Prince Harry appearing to break Los Angeles mask rules at the Super Bowl while meeting Cedric the Entertainer backstage, as he greeted the actor having removed his face covering that he had been wearing while seated.
Prince Harry proved he is settling into Hollywood life as he embraced the singer Jennifer Hudson in a behind-the-scenes snap from the NACCP awards
The Duke of Sussex, 38, who lives in a $14m mansion in Montecito, California, joined his wife Meghan Markle, 40, to attend the NAACP awards on Saturday at Pasadena Civic Auditorium
During the event Prince Harry and Meghan Markle paid tribute to the people of Ukraine as they accepted the President’s Award.
As Ukrainians fought tooth and nail to defend their cities against Russian aggression, the Duke and Duchess appeared on stage to accept the award in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service.
The pair accepted the award for their work helping a Texas women’s shelter, promoting vaccine equity and creating community relief centers, Harry first wanted to address the conflict in Ukraine following Russia‘s invasion this week.
‘We would like to acknowledge the people of Ukraine, who urgently need our continued support as a global community,’ he told a room filled with glammed-up Hollywood stars and dignitaries.
In snaps which have emerged on social media, and were shared by @_duchess_of_sussex , the royal can be seen beaming as he embraces the star backstage
His speech in front of Hollywood A-listers, such as Daniel Kaluuya, took place as Ukrainians in Kyiv came under siege for a third successive night and Russian troops rolled into the second city of Kharkiv.
The Duke, wearing a tuxedo as he stood next to Meghan in a bright blue dress, also said he was grateful for being honored by the NAACP and that he and his wife were meant to be together to help others despite their supposed differences.
‘I think it’s safe to say that I come from a very different background from my incredible wife, yet our lives were brought together for a reason.
‘We share a commitment to a life of service, a responsibility to combat injustice and a belief that the most often overlooked are the most important to listen to.’
The Duke and Duchess have often flaunted their union as that of a wealthy prince meeting a woman from humble beginnings, despite the fact that Meghan often enjoyed luxuries as a kid with her estranged father, Thomas Markle.
The royal couple, who live in a $14m mansion in Montecito, California, attended the NAACP awards on Saturday at Pasadena Civic Auditorium
Meghan Markle, Tamika Johnson and Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP, at the 53rd NAACP Image Awards Show
When receiving their award, Megan said: ‘I couldn’t be prouder that we’re doing this work together.’
‘We moved to California, my home state, shortly before the murder of George Floyd.
‘For black America, those nine minutes and 29 seconds transcended time, invoking centuries of our unhealed wounds.
‘In the months that followed, as my husband and I spoke with the civil rights community, we committed ourselves and our organization, Archewell, to illuminating those who are advancing racial justice and progress.’
it’s the second high profile event Prince Harry has attended in recent weeks with his Hollywood neighbours, having attended the Superbowl earlier this month.
He visited the victorious Los Angeles Rams in the locker room to congratulate his new hometown team, after watching them win in the stands with cousin Princess Eugenie, who also wore a mask.
It comes weeks after Harry appeared to break Los Angeles mask rules at the Super Bowl while meeting Cedric the Entertainer backstage at the Super Bowl after he greeted the actor having removed his face covering that he had been wearing while seated
Harry and Eugenie wore masks to attend the game which saw the Los Angeles Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday
The Duke was also wearing a mask while posing in a hospitality area with country star Mickey Guyton, who had sung the US national anthem. She tweeted a picture of them, in which Harry is wearing a suit jacket and jeans with a T-shirt and face mask. Guyton wrote: ‘I met Prince Harry. He was just lovely. I even curtsied in my track suit.’
Harry sat with Eugenie, 31, in premium seats at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles which was part of a suite sponsored by tech firm Salesforce, one of the official partners of BetterUp, which is the San Francisco-based corporate and personal coaching company that Harry works for as ‘chief impact officer’.
And Harry was said to have joined the Rams in the locker room after they beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback at Super Bowl LVI. Revealing the news, leading sports writer Peter King told The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz: ‘The most interesting thing to me is how in LA football has been revived.
‘I missed him last night but he was in the Rams’ locker room. Prince Harry was in the locker room hanging out with the Rams. Cardi B was in the building last night at this party. It’s just when you win in sport, there are crazy things that happen to your team. The Rams are winning, they are in LA, people love them.’
Country singer Mickey Guyton shared a photo after meeting Prince Harry at the Super Bowl after singing the national anthem