At a star-studded music event in New York last night, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex blasted “ultra-wealthy pharmaceutical companies,” urging them to renounce patents on their coronavirus vaccines.

Harry and Meghan spoke as part of Global Citizen Live, a 24-hour event urging governments to implement a vaccination equality policy.

Ed Sheeran, Lizzo, and Billie Eilish performed during the event, which took place on the Great Lawn in Central Park on Saturday.

The Duchess of Sussex looked gorgeous in a $5400 embroidered white shift dress by Valentino, with her hair in a loose ponytail and soft waves about her face.

Prince Harry wore a white button-up shirt with the collar open under a fitted black suit.

Prince Harry took to the podium to call for pharmaceutical firms to renounce their intellectual property rights to Covid-19 vaccinations, calling the epidemic a “human rights crisis.”

“We’re battling more than the virus alone, this is a battle of misinformation, bureaucracy, lack of transparency and lack of access and, above all, this is a human rights crisis,” the duke added.

“They said many countries are ready to produce vaccines at home, yet they aren’t allowed to, because ultra wealthy pharmaceutical companies are not sharing the recipes to make them. These countries have the means the ability and the workers to start manufacturing. All they are waiting for is the vaccine intellectual property to be waived and for the vaccine technology to be transferred over,” he added.

“By the way, many of these vaccines were publicly funded,” he said. “They are your vaccines, you paid for them.”

“So, global citizens, we ask you tonight, do you think we should start treating access to the vaccine as a basic human right?

“When we start making decisions through that lens, where every single person deserves equal access to the vaccine, then we can achieve what is needed together, for all of us.”

“Every single person on this planet has a fundamental right to get this vaccine. That’s the point. But that’s not happening. And while in this country and many others you can go almost anywhere and get vaccinated, billions of people around the world cannot,” Duchess Meghan said.

“It is wrong that so much of the vaccine supply has only gone to just 10 wealthy nations so far and not everyone else. It’s just not OK.

“These experts shared that how the vaccine is distributed, and who it’s distributed to, should be left to independent international organisations who know exactly where the doses are most needed.

“Just think about the millions of vaccines that have been discarded this year. That’s like throwing away life vests, when those around you are drowning.”

During Harry’s solemn speech, the crowd erupted in applause when he addressed Meghan as “my wife.” and the pair had a sweet moment. “My wife and I believe that where you’re born should not dictate your ability to survive,” he said after a quick hug. For the remainder of the speech, they stood hand in hand.

Prior to their visit, the pair chatted with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed about vaccinations and other issues that they “care deeply about,” such as climate change and mental health.