Meghan Markle dazzled during a solo red carpet appearance on Wednesday, as she supported her friend Tyler Perry at The Paley Honors gala in Beverly Hills.
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, wowed in a strapless black gown with a sizzling front slit and strappy black heels at the event, held at the iconic Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Sparkling around her neck was an exquisite diamond necklace.
Meghan and husband Prince Harry, 40 — who recently said the pair have no plans to return to the United Kingdom — were part of the Tribute Host Committee Chairs for the event, though he was not present on the red carpet.
The Suits star was there to cheer on Perry, 55, as the Paley Center for Media honored the visionary director, actor and philanthropist with a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of his career. Perry was also the recipient of the Paley Honors Award at the soirée.
The actress and her husband have a close friendship with the billionaire filmmaker, who is the godfather of their three-year-old daughter, Lilibet.
In September, Meghan and Harry — who have reportedly taken a ‘twin track’ approach to public appearances, that will see them doing more things on their own rather than together — attended his star-studded birthday bash with Oprah.
Perry — who previously said Meghan treated him ‘like a therapist’ after quitting the royal family — also famously let the pair stay in his Santa Barbara home when they first moved to America.
The Six Triple Eight filmmaker looked dapper for the night, wearing a black tuxedo with a black button-up underneath.
While on the red carpet he and Meghan shared a tender hug and chatted together.
He also posed with actress Tika Sumpter, 44, who thrilled in a silver gown.
Also present at the event was Yvette Nicole Brown, 53, who looked chic in a black velvet suit and matching heels.
‘Throughout my career, I have strived to bring people together and to give a voice to those often underrepresented in media,’ Perry said in a statement after it was revealed he would be receiving the award.
‘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.’
Maureen J. Reidy, the President & CEO of The Paley Center for Media, shared: ‘Through his acclaimed and prolific body of work, Tyler Perry has solidified his place as one of media’s greatest and most impactful figures.’
‘With each new project, he continues to move our industry, and our culture, forward, and it is our great privilege to present Tyler with our highest honor, The Paley Honors Award.’
Other Tribute Host Committee Chairs at the event were Ariel Emanuel, Jon Feltheimer, Whoopi Goldberg, Taraji P. Henson, Matt Johnson, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Gayle King, Debra L. Lee, Mellody Hobson and George Lucas, Scott Mills, The Honorable Nicole Avant and Ted Sarandos, and Kerry Washington.
The Paley Center for Media called Perry ‘one of the most inspiring, versatile, prolific, and innovative creatives working in media today’ adding that ‘Over the course of his storied career, he has produced over 2,000 episodes of television, and directed, written, and produced 28 feature films.’
The Paley Center for Media is a non-profit organization that’s dedicated to preserving television and radio history and exploring the cultural and social impact of media.
Back in 2020, after Harry and Meghan announced that they were saying goodbye to their royal duties and relocating to California, the couple, along with their then-one-year-old son, Archie, spent a few months living in Tyler’s Beverly Hills mansion.
During an interview with The Cut in 2022, Meghan, spoke out about her bond with Tyler, explaining that he got in touch with her after she first wed Harry in 2018.
She added that he sent her a ‘note’ in which he said he ‘understood’ the intense pressure she was under, and encouraged her to reach out if she ever needed help.
She soon began to open up to him about her struggles and the two grew close, despite them never even meeting in person.
‘Sometimes, you can tell your life story to a stranger on a plane as opposed to some of the people that are closest to you,’ she told The Cut.