Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are set to celebrate a special individual in their lives: Tyler Perry, the godfather to their daughter, Princess Lilibet. Perry, known for his generosity and support during the couple’s transition to life in the United States, is being honored with the Paley Center for Media’s highest accolade, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at the forefront of the celebrations.

A Royal-Approved Honor
The Paley Center announced on July 17 that Tyler Perry, 54, would be honored at the Paley Honors gala in Beverly Hills on December 4. Among the tribute chairs for the event are Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, joined by other notable figures like Whoopi Goldberg, Gayle King, Taraji P. Henson, George Lucas, and Kerry Washington. Perry’s recognition highlights his significant contributions to media and his efforts to amplify underrepresented voices.

“Throughout my career, I have strived to bring people together and to give a voice to those often underrepresented in media,” Perry shared in a statement. “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.”

A Friendship Rooted in Support
The bond between Meghan, Harry, and Tyler Perry began when Perry reached out to Meghan around her 2018 royal wedding. In a 2022 interview with The Cut, Meghan revealed that Perry had contacted her to express his support and to offer any help she might need. This gesture of kindness laid the foundation for a friendship that would prove crucial during one of the couple’s most challenging periods.

In early 2020, as Meghan and Harry announced their decision to step back from royal duties, they found themselves navigating an uncertain future from their temporary stay in Vancouver, Canada. Perry, having never met the couple in person, offered his Los Angeles estate as a safe haven for them and their son, Prince Archie, along with a security detail. This generous offer provided the family with much-needed stability and privacy during their transition.

A Safe Haven and Ongoing Gratitude
During their stay at Perry’s estate, the couple experienced a sense of peace and security, with Perry keeping a watchful eye to ensure their well-being remained undiscovered by the public. “Every day that they were there, I looked to see if anything’s happening online. Nothing. They don’t even know. So weeks and weeks they were there. They were so happy. It was such a beautiful moment,” Perry shared in a November 2023 episode of Let’s Talk Off-Camera with Kelly Ripa.

As Meghan and Harry settled into their permanent home in Montecito, Perry continued to support them, even gifting them a grand piano with the sentiment, “Write the soundtrack for your life.” This gesture further cemented the couple’s appreciation for Perry’s kindness and generosity during a complicated time in their lives.

“They’re really grateful to Tyler Perry for his kindness,” an insider told PEOPLE in summer 2020. “They have endless gratitude to him for helping them during a complicated time. With COVID and as they were stepping back from their royal duties, he provided them a safe haven.”

A Special Role as Godfather
In June 2021, Meghan and Harry welcomed their daughter, Princess Lilibet. Recognizing Perry’s unwavering support and kindness, they asked him to be her godfather, a role Perry revealed in the Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan. Perry recalled the seriousness of the moment when the couple asked him to take on this significant role.

“I go, ‘Okay, what’s going on?’ They said, ‘Well, we’d like for you to be Lili’s godfather.’ I go, ‘Whoa.’ I had to take a minute to take that in. And I thought, ‘I’d be honored. I’d absolutely be honored.'”

However, Perry did have one condition. “I called them back and go, ‘Uh, hold on a second — does this mean we gotta go over [to the U.K.] and do all of that in church with [the royal family] and figure all that out? ‘Cause I don’t wanna do that,'” he humorously recounted. “Maybe we can do a little private ceremony here [in the U.S.] and let that be that, and if you have to do it there, then that’s okay.”

Princess Lilibet was christened in a small ceremony at Meghan and Harry’s Montecito home in 2023. The intimate gathering included 20 to 30 guests, among them Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, Perry, and an unnamed godmother. The celebration featured an afternoon of food and dancing, with Prince Archie enjoying a dance with his little sister.

Perry, flying in from his home in Atlanta, brought a 10-person gospel choir that performed “Oh Happy Day” and “This Little Light of Mine,” the latter a significant song from Meghan and Harry’s wedding.

Conclusion
As Tyler Perry receives the Paley Center for Media’s highest honor, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry lead the celebrations, paying tribute to a man who played a pivotal role in their lives. Perry’s support during their transition from royal duties to private citizens in the U.S. was invaluable, and his role as godfather to Princess Lilibet signifies the deep bond they share.

This honor not only recognizes Perry’s contributions to media but also celebrates the profound impact he has had on the lives of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Their story is a testament to the power of friendship, kindness, and unwavering support in the face of life’s challenges.


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Source: https://people.com/meghan-markle-prince-harry-celebrate-tyler-perry-paley-honor-8679521