Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, paid tribute to feminist activist and journalist Gloria Steinem, who died on September 2 at age 92 at her home in New York City. In a lengthy Instagram post shared Thursday, Meghan described Steinem as her “friend and mentor,” honoring the pioneering women’s rights advocate who shaped the American feminist movement for over half a century.
Steinem, co-founder of Ms. Magazine in 1972, was a defining voice of second-wave feminism and a leader of the women’s liberation movement. According to Meghan’s tribute, their relationship extended far beyond public appearances and interviews. “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,” Meghan wrote.
Meghan shared a series of photographs alongside her tribute, including a previously unseen image of Steinem with her oldest child, Prince Archie, 7, taken in Montecito. Meghan’s post marked her first Instagram update since she and Prince Harry relocated to Britain last week after six years in California, along with their children Archie and Princess Lilibet, 5.
The pair’s documented friendship began publicly in 2020 when Meghan interviewed Steinem for Makers Women during the COVID-19 pandemic. In that backyard conversation, filmed at Meghan and Harry’s Montecito mansion, the two discussed voting rights and feminism. “People forget how hard women like you and so many others like you fought for us to be where we are right now,” Meghan told the then-86-year-old Steinem, who responded with her signature wisdom: “If you don’t vote you don’t exist. It is the only place where we’re all equal, the voting booth.”
During that 2020 interview, Meghan also highlighted Prince Harry’s commitment to feminism, recounting how he told Steinem: “You know that I’m a feminist, too, right, Gloria?! It’s really important to me that you know that.” Meghan reflected on her own understanding of feminism, stating: “As I’ve gotten older I’ve been able to understand that it’s not mutually exclusive to be a feminist and be feminine, and to own that and harness your femininity and your identification as a woman in all of the different layers.”
Steinem spent her career championing gender equality, reproductive rights, and voting access. She co-founded the Women’s Action Alliance, a group dedicated to fighting sexism, and was a columnist for New York Magazine before launching Ms. Magazine. Her activism and journalism helped transform women’s rights into a national political movement, and her legacy continues to influence advocates for gender equality worldwide.
Meghan concluded her tribute with a simple but powerful message: “Rest in peace, and rest in pride. Look at what you’ve done for all of us. Thank you.”
Sources
- USA Today — Meghan’s full Instagram tribute, details of her relationship with Steinem, the 2020 Makers interview, and the couple’s recent move to Britain
- NPR — Gloria Steinem’s death date, age, and location
- Reuters — Confirmation of Steinem’s death at age 92
- BBC News — Steinem’s role as a leader of the women’s liberation movement and co-founder of the Women’s Action Alliance
- CNN — Steinem’s role as co-founder of Ms. Magazine
- The Guardian — Details of Steinem’s death and her foundation’s public statement
