On December 6, the Ripple of Hope gala, which recognises people for their humanitarian and philanthropic endeavours, will present the Duke and Duchess of Sussex with an award. And the tickets to sit at their table or even their section have eye-watering prices written on them.
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One million for four
The event will be hosted by John F. Kennedy's niece Kerry Kennedy and the Gala’s top tier ‘Pioneer’ package costs around $1 million (£847,000) which would get people four seats at the top table where Prince Harry and Meghan will be sitting.
Another package runs from $500,000 (£424,000) and includes access to a VIP reception where the photographers are going to snap the Duke and Duchess of Sussex with the main benefactors of the event organised by the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organisation.
Meanwhile, Hollywood producer and actor Alec Baldwin will oversee the gala.
Why the Sussexes?
While the Sussexes may be delighted to be receiving the prestigious award – that was previously awarded to US President Joe Biden, former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and former Democratic Presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Al Gore – some historians are baffled by it. One Hollywood producer told Mailonline:
Everyone has been scratching their heads to try to figure out the reason why Harry and Meghan were chosen to receive this while they are still in the early stages of their philanthropic work.
Perhaps the connection between the Netflix documentary and Rory Kennedy is it?
Professor David Nasaw – author of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated book The Patriarch – also told the publication:
I find it somewhere between sublimely ridiculous and blatantly ludicrous. It's absurd.
If you look at the people who have been awarded the Robert Kennedy prize in the past – Bill and Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi [Speaker of the US House of Representatives], Bishop Desmond Tutu – and then you have to ask what are Harry and Meghan doing here?
What in God's name have they done to merit this? What percentage of Harry and Meghan's wealth is going to worthy causes?
Source Used
Daily Mail: Rich Americans fork out $1 MILLION to see Harry and Meghan receive the same human rights award as Barack Obama at glittering gala night in New York blasted as 'blatantly ludicrous'