Meghan Markle is among several historic figures - including Oprah and Maya Angelou - featured in project celebrating Black women, helmed by her pal Tyler Perry

Meghan Markle is among the several celebrated figures - including Beyonce, Oprah and Maya Angelou - who features in a project commemorating the work of Black women, helmed by her pal Tyler Perry. The Duchess of Sussex was included in a heartfelt tribute, which compiled photos of historical icons like Nina Simone as well as more recent personas, like Kamala Harris. Other snaps featured regular women at work or simply in their communities, as well at political protests and rallies.

On Instagram, Tyler shared the promotional clip for a new song - BLKWMN - which flicked through black and white photos, set to a new upcoming track, written by singer Ledisi and producer Jocmusiq. The tune, which will be available on February 21, is set to a smooth melody, starting off with the stunning lyrics: 'Black hue, born from a golden hour...'. It is suggested a video element - filmed by Tyler Perry and Kvle Johnson - will also be in place.

The shot of Meghan, 43, is the same portrait used by the Duchess to promote her Archetypes podcast on Spotify. Other famous faces in the gallery included Queen Latifah, Tracee Ellis Ross and Quinta Brunson. Meghan Markle (left) is among the several celebrated figures - including Beyonce , Oprah and Maya Angelou - who features in a project commemorating the work of Black women, helmed by her pal Tyler Perry (right).

The shot of Meghan, 43, is the same portrait used by the Duchess to promote her Archetypes podcast on Spotify. Tracee - also understood to be friends with Meghan - shared the teaser on her own social media, writing: 'Thank you @ledisi and @tylerperry for including me in the beautiful tribute to Black women.'. Tyler and Meghan have long been known to be close - just in December, the mother-of-two supported her friend at The Paley Honors gala in Beverly Hills.

The Duchess was seen hugging and holding hands with the billionaire filmmaker, 55 - demonstrating the typical pally affection she displays towards her most loyal allies. Meghan and her 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 event marked Meghan and Tyler's first red carpet appearance together - but despite only being seen in each other's company a handful of times over the years, they have shown their unwavering support for one another on numerous occasions.

In many ways, the Madea actor was the key figure facilitating Meghan and Harry's move to the US - offering his private jet for their so-called 'freedom flight' to relocate the couple from the home in Vancouver, where they had been staying. The Duchess of Sussex was clearly glad to see her long-term pal as they shared a hug at the Paley Center Fall gala in December. Famously, it was Perry who offered up his $18million home in Santa Barbara for the couple to live in in the early days after quitting the royal family in 2020.

According to The Cut, Tyler offering his home to the pair 'became, in many ways, the reason that Meghan and Harry started their new life in Southern California.'. He was also a key figure in Meghan and Harry's bombshell Netflix documentary, and is so close to the couple that he is godfather to their daughter Princess Lilibet, three. The first public signs of their blossoming friendship came in early 2020 when Tyler  expressed sympathy for Meghan, referencing comments that she made to ITV news presenter Tom Bradby for a documentary shot in Africa.

He said: 'Remember when Meghan Markle did that interview? She said "Thanks for asking if I'm okay. Because no one ever asks me that.". 'I felt her when she said that. People toss it out. "How are you doing?" But not many people really mean it. Or pay attention to the answer'. 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.

The sprawling 22-acre estate is set in the ultra-exclusive Beverly Ridge Estates guard-gated community, offering sweeping views of the city from the backyard. Tyler denied that Meghan and Harry had been introduced to them by mutual friend Oprah (pictured on her show). It was from there that the duo celebrated Archie's first birthday - and where he took his first steps - as they shared tiny glimpses of the home while appearing on video chats and in social media clips throughout their stay.

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.