Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to honor one of their biggest Hollywood allies at a glittering Beverly Hills awards ceremony in December, it has been confirmed.
Actor and producer Tyler Perry, who offered the couple refuge and free security after their split from the monarchy in 2020, has been named the recipient of the Paley Center's Paley Honors Award for his contributions to the entertainment industry.
The star will receive the award at an A-list celebrity gala at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on December 4 and will hear tributes from his friends and colleagues.
Among those set to be present are Harry and Meghan, who have also been named "Tribute Host Committee Chairs" for the evening, alongside famous names such as Whoopi Goldberg, Taraji P. Henson, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Gayle King, Kerry Washington and Ted Sarandos.
In a press release announcing his honor, filmmaker Perry said his professional mission has been to provide a platform for the underrepresented.
"Throughout my career, I have strived to bring people together and to give a voice to those often underrepresented in media," he said.
"Media has served as a vital platform for this mission, and I'm honored to receive this award from The Paley Center for Media, an organization that has dedicated itself to spotlighting the power and importance of media."
Newsweek reached out to representatives of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle via email for comment.
Perry's relationship dates back to around the time Meghan married Harry in a fairytale wedding ceremony at Windsor Castle in 2018.
Though not among the guests, it was later revealed that Perry reached out to the duchess, offering her his admiration and support after empathizing with issues she faced with family members at the time.
"When my life changed and success started to come, family members became different people. And I know how hurtful and how horrible it can be," he said in an interview given to Harry and Meghan's six-part Netflix docuseries in 2022.
"I immediately empathized with her. This was before the wedding. And I sent her a note, just praying for her just to be able to move through it and hold on and let her know that everything in her life had prepared her for this moment, or so I thought."
In the docuseries, Meghan opened up about how she reached out to Perry during the turbulent time of her split from the monarchy with Harry in 2020. At the time, the U.K. government had removed the couple's bodyguards following their move to North America.
"That's where Tyler came into the picture. I'd never met him before. He sent me a letter before the wedding just saying he was praying for me. And that if I ever need anything, he would be there," Meghan said.
"Months and months and months went by. And then one day, when we were in Canada, I had called him...I was just a wreck; I was just crying and crying. Sometimes, it's easier to just open up to someone who knows nothing at all."
Perry went on to describe his concerns for Meghan after the experiences of Princess Diana after she left the monarchy in the 1990s.
"We stayed in touch," Meghan said. "And when we needed to go, he said, 'What can we do to make it easier? How can I help you?'...He's like, 'My house is safe. I'll make sure you have security. Take your time.'"
Harry and Meghan remained at Perry's Beverly Hills home for three months before they purchased their own residence in Montecito, near Santa Barbara.
The Hollywood star has become one of their fiercest allies and it was revealed in the Netflix show that the couple made him godfather to their daughter, Princess Lilibet which he said was "honored" by.
Now, Harry and Meghan will honor him again, partially repaying the favor he granted them on their move to the United States, a signal of their continued bond and friendship.
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek's royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
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