Meghan Markle honors late feminist Gloria Steinem with emotional tribute

Meghan Markle posted an Instagram tribute on 2 September, hours after the announcement that Gloria Steinem had died at her New York home at the age of 92. The former duchess opened the caption with, “Celebrating the life and legacy of my friend and mentor, Gloria Steinem,” and went on to describe a bracelet Steinem had given her that bears the slogan “we are linked, not ranked.” She said the piece remains with her “with pride.”

The post blends public‑record moments with private memories. Publicly, the two women first appeared together in 2020 when they filmed a socially‑distanced “backyard chat” encouraging young voters to cast ballots in the U.S. Election. Both sources note that the conversation was later highlighted in media coverage of the pandemic‑era outreach. In the months that followed, the pair took part in award ceremonies, most prominently when Steinem presented the Women of Vision Award from the Ms Foundation to Markle in 2023. The award ceremony was referenced in the Instagram caption and in the coverage from Ibtimes, Yahoo News and the Mirror.

Media additions

Meghan Markle Honours Gloria Steinem After Trump Brands Her

Beyond the stage, Steinem became a fixture in the Sussex family’s private life. In a detailed recollection, Markle said Steinem “spent Thanksgiving with our family,” and that she “loved our children with her whole heart.” The Instagram gallery included a framed photograph of Steinem beside a toddler whose face was covered by a white‑heart emoji – identified by fans as Prince Archie. The same image had been spotted in an Architectural Digest home‑tour of Steinem’s office in 2025, confirming the long‑standing personal connection.

Markle also highlighted a “very favourite story” that illustrates Steinem’s philosophy. She wrote that a woman once approached the activist in New York, eager to introduce her young daughter, yet hesitant because the child might not recognise Steinem’s name. Steinem’s reply, reproduced verbatim in the caption, was:

“It doesn’t matter if she knows who I am. What matters is that she knows who SHE is.”

Gloria Steinem, quoted by Meghan Markle via Instagram

The sentiment was framed as a broader lesson on self‑worth, a theme Markle tied to her own advocacy work. She concluded the tribute with, “Rest in peace, and rest in pride. Look at what you’ve done for all of us. Thank you,” echoing the gratitude expressed in the statement released by Steinem’s foundation.

Context of the tribute

Steinem’s death was announced by her own foundation on Instagram, which described her as having “continued working for equality until the very end.” The statement also noted that she “gave people permission to be their truest selves.” Sources detail Steinem’s lifelong contributions: co‑founding Ms Magazine, co‑creating the National Women’s Political Caucus, and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013. Her career, spanning the 1960s onward, is framed as foundational to the modern women’s‑rights movement.

Meghan’s tribute arrived on the same day that former President Donald Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, revived criticism of the Sussexes. Trump accused the couple of “great disrespect” toward the monarchy and singled out Markle as “terribly disrespectful.” Both the IBTimes and the Mirror connect these remarks to the timing of the Instagram post, noting that the two stories were discussed together in the media, although the tribute itself was framed as a response to Steinem’s passing rather than a reply to Trump.

Chronology of the Markle‑Steinem association

• 2020 – First meeting and the “backyard chat” on voter participation.
• 2022 – Markle referenced Steinem’s advice in a Vogue interview, describing the activist’s influence on channeling anger into activism.
• 2023 – Steinem presented the Women of Vision Award to Markle; later that year she spent Thanksgiving with the Sussex family.
• 2025 – Architectural Digest revealed a framed photo of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in Steinem’s office.

What the tribute reveals about their bond

Across the sources, the private dimension of the friendship is consistently highlighted. Markle describes Steinem as “even better than you would imagine” in private, noting that she “introduced me to one of my best friends (forever the champion of female friendship).” The Instagram caption also mentions Steinem’s “extraordinary advice and perspective with a cup of tea and an unrivalled cheekiness and wit.” These remarks parallel comments in the Aol article that recall Steinem’s mentorship and personal counsel during “hard times.”

Both the Mirror and the Express note that the bracelet’s message, “we are linked, not ranked,” encapsulated the activist’s belief in solidarity over competition. Markle’s repeated emphasis on wearing the bracelet “with pride” underscores how the emblem became a tangible reminder of that philosophy.

In addition to the personal anecdotes, the tribute includes cultural markers. The post was set to Dolly Parton’s “Just Because I’m a Woman,” a song that has long been associated with feminist empowerment. The choice of music, highlighted in the Mirror coverage, reinforces the thematic connection between Steinem’s legacy and the Sussexes’ public advocacy.

Looking ahead

The convergence of Steinem’s death and Trump’s criticism has placed the Sussexes back in the headlines. While the tribute itself does not signal any new initiatives, the timing has spurred renewed discussion of both the activist’s enduring influence and the couple’s role in contemporary feminist discourse. Future public appearances or statements from the Duchess may reference the “linked, not ranked” ethos as she continues her work on gender equity, a possibility noted by multiple outlets as part of the ongoing conversation.