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Meghan Markle pays emotional tribute to 'brilliant' Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died at her home in Washington aged 87: AP
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died at her home in Washington aged 87: AP

The Duchess of Sussex has joined celebrities around the world in paying tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The US Supreme Court judge died of metastatic cancer at her home in Washington aged 87.

Ms Ginsburg was the second woman to be nominated to the highest court in America and spent much of her career calling for gender equality.

Describing her as a "woman of brilliance", Meghan shared how Ms Ginsburg had been an inspiration to her since she was a girl.

Meghan Markle said Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a 'woman of brilliance' (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Meghan Markle said Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a 'woman of brilliance' (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

In a statement, Meghan said: “With an incomparable and indelible legacy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg will forever be known as a woman of brilliance, a justice of courage, and a human of deep conviction.

“She has been a true inspiration to me since I was a girl. Honour her, remember her, act for her.”

Dozens of celebrities have paid tribute to Ms Ginsberg and her legacy.

Writing on Instagram, Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks said her death left her feeling “very much like I felt on the night my own mother died”.

She added: “I feel like someone punched me in the stomach.

“My tears have not stopped since a friend tip-toed into my room and said, ‘Stevie, Ruth died’.”

The singer said she had hoped to meet Ms Ginsburg “to hold her hand and give her a huge hug and thank her for all she had done for women and for all she would continue to do”.

Nicks added: “It is my great regret that I did not make the effort to go and try to meet her.

“As with all legends, you think they will live forever, so you will get there in time.

“As a two-time Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee, the first female to be inducted twice, compared to 22 men having been inducted twice, I Stevie Nicks, induct Ruth Bader Ginsburg into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame of Life.”

Marvel star Robert Downey Jr shared a picture of the late judge alongside a quote said to have been made by her.

Downey Jr said: “‘Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.’ RIP, RBG.”

Mariah Carey also paid tribute, writing on Instagram: “Thank you for a lifetime of service. Thank you for changing history. We will never let it be undone. RIP RBG.”

Julie Cohen co-directed the 2018 documentary RBG and shared her brief tribute on Twitter.

“WHAT A LOSS,” she said.

Cohen later posted a picture of her and her RBG co-director Betsy West with the subject of the film, writing: “Surely the smartest and toughest person I’ll ever have the privilege to know. Rest in Peace, Ruth Bader Ginsburg.”

Ms Ginsburg announced in July she was undergoing chemotherapy treatment for lesions on her liver, the latest of her several battles with cancer.

She spent her final years on the bench as the unquestioned leader of the court’s liberal wing and became something of a rock star figure to her admirers.

Young women especially seemed to embrace the court’s Jewish grandmother, affectionately calling her the Notorious RBG – inspired by the rapper Notorious BIG – for her defence of the rights of women and minorities.

She was also admired for her strength in battling health issues, including five bouts of cancer beginning in 1999, falls that resulted in broken ribs, the insertion of a stent to clear a blocked artery and assorted other hospital treatments after she turned 75.

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US Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dies aged 87