Back to work! Prince harry and Meghan markle released in New York on Saturday, September 25 for a joint appearance at the Global Citizen Festival.

The couple held hands and smiled on the main stage before giving an impassioned speech on the COVID-19 vaccine. Harry, 37, looked dapper in a fitted suit, while his wife, 40, wore a short-sleeved white dress with embellished floral accents. Harry started his speech with “My wife and I”, which generated a lot of excitement in the crowd.

“The crowd loved them !!! Shouting for them even before they are on stage! “, a Twitter the user noted on Saturday.

Harry and Meghan encouraged attendees and viewers to get the shot if they haven’t already.

“Look at us all here! 60,000 men, together in New York, “yelled the army veteran on stage. “Are we ready to do what is necessary to end this pandemic?

“Hello everyone,” said the Northwestern University alumnus. “It’s so good to be back here with all of you. Look, we know it feels like this pandemic has been going on forever. We understand, that’s a lot and some people are barely overwhelmed by it. if everyone is done with this it will never be over.There are so many things we can do today, now that can bring us closer to the end of this pandemic and that is why we are all here. We can be here tonight because the brightest scientists, researchers, frontline workers and altruistic public health leaders have risked their lives to protect our global community. They are our humanitarian heroes.

Harry continued, “Since the start of this pandemic, we have had discussions with the experts on how we can do our part. This week, we sat down with independent health leaders to better understand how we are moving closer to vaccine equity and ending this health crisis, but we are battling more than a virus alone. It’s a battle of disinformation, of bureaucracy [and] lack of transparency.”

The couple went on to talk about equal access to vaccines. “My wife and I believe it,” Harry began but the crowd erupted into cheers and applause. Harry looked at Meghan and pulled her closer. She put her arm around his back and rested her head on his shoulder, delighting the crowd of support.

The Duke continued with a chuckle: “My wife and I believe that the way you were born shouldn’t dictate your ability to survive.”

Meghan added: “Especially when the treatments are there to protect you.”

The royal couple kicked off their New York tour with a visit to the One World Trade Center observatory on Thursday, September 23. The native of England and the Remember me the actress held hands when they met Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Kathy Hochul. The couple’s visit to the WTC memorial marked their first joint outing since welcoming their daughter, Lili, earlier this year.

It was announced on Tuesday, September 21 that the royal couple will attend the Global Citizen Live in Central Park in New York City. Global Citizen explained via a statement at the time that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex aimed to “continue their urgent work with world leaders in the pursuit of global vaccine fairness to end the COVID-19 pandemic for everyone, everywhere ”through this apparition.

Earlier this month, BetterUp’s Chief Impact Officer virtually attended the 24th British GQ Men of the Year Awards to honor the team of scientists at the University of Oxford who developed the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine amid the pandemic.

“I am deeply honored to present our latest award winners, whom you will immediately recognize for their historic contribution to the fight against COVID-19,” the England native said in his September 1 speech. “Our heroes tonight are Professor Sarah Gilbert, Doctor Catherine Green and the entire Oxford team of dedicated scientists. Their groundbreaking Oxford vaccine research has given the world one of our best tools for achieving vaccine equity. Their groundbreaking Oxford vaccine research has given the world one of our best tools for achieving vaccine equity. “

During his virtual appearance, Harry praised the team’s humanitarian efforts before noting that he and his wife also tried to do their part by speaking to vaccine experts, industry leaders and advocates. community. The military veteran also detailed the importance of vaccine accessibility and widespread misinformation about its effectiveness before urging participants to “keep doing our part.”

“We cannot move forward together unless we treat this imbalance as one,” he said at the time. “It’s a system that we must break if we are to overcome COVID-19 and the rise of new variants. The Oxford team have done their part. It is heroes of the first order who have given us an instrument to fight this disease. They are the pride of our nation, and we are deeply indebted to their service.

Both men have previously been credited as campaign co-chairs at Global Citizen’s VAX Live: the concert to bring the world together in May.

During the May 2 taping, the Duke of Sussex appeared at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, giving a passionate speech on the COVID-19 vaccine.

“This pandemic can only end if we act collectively with an unprecedented commitment to our common humanity. The vaccine should be distributed to everyone everywhere. We cannot rest or truly recover until there is a fair distribution to all corners of the world, ”Harry said at the time. “The mission ahead is one we cannot afford to fail and that is what it is about tonight. The virus does not respect borders and access to the vaccine cannot be determined by geography. It must be accepted as a fundamental right for all, and this is our starting point.

The recording of the Global Citizen concert marked the Archewell co-founder’s first public appearance since the funeral of his grandfather Prince Philip in the UK a month earlier. The Suit alum, who skipped the funeral and concert while pregnant with the couple’s second child, stayed at home with their 2-year-old son Archie.

Residents of Montecito, Calif., Then welcomed their daughter, Lili, in June.

“It is with great joy that Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, welcome their daughter, Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, to the world,” the couple announced via a statement on their Archewell website at the time. . “Lili was born Friday, June 4 at 11:40 a.m. under the trusted care of doctors and staff at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California.”

Scroll down to see photos of Meghan and Harry at Global Citizen:

Reporting by Sarah Hearon and ElizaBeth Taylor