Ripple of Hope for Meghan Markle as she commands centre stage in Vuitton gown

Meghan and her husband Prince Harry were given the Ripple of Hope Award on Tuesday 6 December 2022 by the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights nonprofit organisation.

Meghan Markle’s off-the-shoulder dress looked incredible and gave her a confident look which connoted a fresh start through it’s white colour and the fact it looked like the one she wore on her wedding day in 2018.

The style was reminiscent of her off the shoulder wedding dress designed by Clare Waight Keller, artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy.

Meghan is clearly a huge fan of the bare shoulder style and her awards outfit was custom made for her by Nicolas Ghesquière for Louis Vuitton.

Meghan's dress was not the only element of her outfit that echoed her wedding day attire, as Meghan accessorised with an aquamarine ring from Princess Diana’s personal collection, the same ring she wore on her wedding day. The Duke, meanwhile, wore a sleek black suit with a white button-up and tie.

The choice of a white dress is an interesting one. It reminds us of the happy moment the couple married, a new start and chapter in their lives. It also can be seen as an illuminating choice. White is often seen to shine a light on the literal and figurative ills of society - which is exactly what the Ripple of Hope Award is commending with its choice of recipients.

Previous winners of the award have included former President Barack Obama, Vice President Kamala Harris and Stacey Abrams, the politician and lawyer, for voting rights activism.

For all the criticism thrown at Meghan and Harry, you can't deny the incredible charitable work they have achieved and continue to pursue. These are not people who just talk of social justice and change. They have actively set up funds to reach the most marginalised.

When their son Archie was born in 2019 it allowed them an opportunity to do something in his name. They created the Archewell Foundation which delivers grants of typically $1000 to various causes. It has donated $1 million to date.

The couple have spoken in high profile interviews with Oprah and Netflix about the racism that Meghan believes she recieved by the royal family and the British press when she started dating Prince Harry.

These claims of racism within the palace culture have been vindicated to some extent the last week since Lady Hussey was forced to resign her honorary position within the royal palace staff at charitable functions. It has since emerged that Lady Hussey was asked to guide Meghan into royal life and this offer was turned down by Meghan. We can understand why since recent events have unfolded.

The race row in the royal family rumbles on. Prince William was compelled to say that his family are not racist.

No matter the truth of the royal family's culture, Meghan and Harry are shaping their own path in their own way. They are seeking publicity to shine a light on whatever they feel passionate about, and racism, sexism and other social causes are huge ongoing problems across the globe.

Meghan spoke again of her mental health battle when pregnant with Archie during the Oprah interview in 2021.

RFKHR President Kerry Kennedy said the royal couple had been 'incredibly brave' in addressing the issues of mental illness and racial justice.

"For Meghan to get out there on national television and normalise discussion of mental health, at this point, is incredibly important and very brave," Ms Kennedy, the daughter of the late Robert F Kennedy, told US outlet Extra.