Princess Lilibet's godfather set to be honoured by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in upcoming ceremony

Tyler Perry and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Lilibet's godfather to be honoured by Meghan and Harry in upcoming ceremony

Getty / Netflix
Dorothy Reddin

By Dorothy Reddin


Published: 18/07/2024

- 08:52

Tyler Perry will receive the Paley Center for Media's highest honour

Princess Lilibet's godfather is set to be honoured by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in an upcoming ceremony.

The Paley Center announced on July 17 that Tyler Perry, 54, will be honoured at the Paley Honors Gala in Beverly Hills on December 4.


The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are among the tribute chairs at the organisation.

Princess Lilibet's godfather issued a statement, saying: "Throughout my career, I have strived to bring people together and to give a voice to those often underrepresented in media.

Tyler Perry and Prince Harry and Meghan MarkleLilibet's godfather to be honoured by Meghan and Harry in upcoming ceremonyGetty / Netflix

"Media has served as a vital platform for this mission, and I’m honoured to receive this award from The Paley Center for Media, an organisation that has dedicated itself to spotlighting the power and importance of media."

Meghan, 42, and Prince Harry, 39, first connected with the filmmaker when Perry reached out to the Duchess of Sussex around her 2018 royal wedding.

The royal told The Cut in 2022 that Perry said he was praying for her "and that he understood what this meant, and that he could only imagine what it was like".

Perry also told her to call if she ever needed support or advice.

Tyler Perry

Tyler Perry is being honoured for his work in the media

PA

In early 2020, Meghan and Harry moved to Vancouver, Canada amid an uncertain future after stepping back from royal life.

Before Perry had ever met the couple, he allowed them to stay in his Los Angeles estate with their son, Prince Archie, along with security detail while transitioning out of their senior roles within the Royal Family.

Perry said on an episode of Let's Talk Off-Camera: "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.

Princess Lilibet

Princess Lilibet's godfather is Tyler Perry - after the US-based filmmaker housed the Sussexes for a short period

Archewell

"They were so happy. It was such a beautiful moment."

After the Sussexes moved to Montecito, Perry gifted the couple with a grand piano as a housewarming gift, telling them: "Write the soundtrack for your life," according to The Cut.

An insider previously said: "They're really grateful to Tyler Perry for his kindness.

"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."

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Meghan and HarryMeghan and Harry stepped back from royal duties in 2020 Getty

After the Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their daughter, Princess Lilibet, in June 2021, they asked Perry to be her godfather, a role he first revealed on the Netflix series Harry & Meghan.

Perry recalled the couple getting "pretty serious" on a phone call: "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 honoured. I'd absolutely be honoured.' "

He later added: "I called them back and go, 'Uh, hold on a second — does this mean we gotta go over [to the UK] and do all of that in church with [the Royal Family] and figure all that out? 'Cause I don't wanna do that'.

"'Maybe we can do a little private ceremony here [in the US] and let that be that, and if you have to do it there, then that's okay.' "

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