The Duchess of Sussex has shared her first post on Instagram since touching down on UK soil. Meghan Markle broke her social media silence on Thursday to pay tribute to her close friend, Gloria Steinem, who has passed away aged 92. Within the series of photos that the Duchess shared was a framed photograph of Gloria and Prince Harry and Meghan's son, Prince Archie together, at the Sussex mansion in Montecito.
The sweet photo showed Archie standing in grey trousers and a white T-shirt, with a strategic white star over his face to conceal his exact identity. Gloria was seen reaching her hand out to the cute tot who is likely to be around two years old at the time. This would have been taken before Princess Lilibet was born.
© InstagramThe photograph is on display at what appears to be their Montecito home. The Sussexes have recently left their US base for a fresh start in the UK, but their exact whereabouts remain unknown. Rumours have been swirling that they are settling in the Cotswolds to provide a countryside upbringing for their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Meghan's heartfelt tribute to Gloria
Meghan penned emotional words about her late friend Gloria, writing: "Celebrating the life and legacy of my friend and mentor, Gloria Steinem, and also grateful to know that in these last few weeks and days she knew exactly how loved and admired she was.
"You all know her many accolades and the way in which she helped shape the world for women and all people - 'we are linked, not ranked' she would tell me, and the bracelet she gave me said exactly that. I still wear it with pride.
© Instagram"Publicly, we did interviews together, called young voters to encourage them to have their voices heard, attended award ceremonies, and brainstormed how to help this beautiful yet complicated world to become more equitable.
"But privately, she was even better than you would imagine - spending Thanksgiving with our family, introducing me to one of my best friends (forever the champion of female friendship), loving our children with her whole heart, counseling me during hard times, and giving extraordinary advice and perspective with a cup of tea and an unrivaled cheekiness and wit.
"But my very favorite story about GLO is when she was out one day in NY, and a woman approached her in absolute awe and said she wanted to introduce her young daughter to her (though she was embarrassed to say the young girl may not know who she was).
Gloria replied: 'It doesn’t matter if she knows who I am. What matters is that she knows who SHE is'.
Rest in peace, and rest in pride. Look at what you’ve done for all of us. Thank you."
Gloria died "peacefully" at the age of 92, it has been confirmed by her organisation, Gloria's Foundation. "Gloria's near-century on earth were years well-lived, and she continued working for equality until the very end," was said within the tribute.
