Meghan, Oprah and Billie Jean King praise Gloria Steinem after death at 92

Gloria Steinem has died aged 92 (PA) PA Archive Lauren Del Fabbro 3 minutes ago The Duchess of Sussex, TV host Oprah Winfrey and US tennis star Billie Jean King are among the stars who have paid tribute to US journalist and feminist activist Gloria Steinem following her death at the age of 92.

Steinem, who dedicated her life to campaigning on issues including equal pay and reproductive rights, was one of the trailblazers behind the US feminist movement.

She died “peacefully” on Wednesday at her home in New York City surrounded by loved ones.

Tributes have poured in for Steinem from around the world and across industries including from Girls creator Lena Dunham , Mulholland Drive actress Naomi Watts, Hollywood star Julianne Moore and Practical Magic actress Sandra Bullock.

Meghan described Steinem as her “friend and mentor” in a post on Instagram.

She said: “Publicly, we did interviews together, called young voters to encourage them to have their voices heard, attended award ceremonies, and brainstormed how to help this beautiful yet complicated world to become more equitable.

“But privately, she was even better than you would imagine – spending Thanksgiving with our family, introducing me to one of my best friends (forever the champion of female friendship), loving our children with her whole heart, counseling me during hard times, and giving extraordinary advice and perspective with a cup of tea and an unrivaled cheekiness and wit.”

Former tennis champion King, who relentlessly challenged sexism in the sport and famously claimed victory over former number one Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes match, described Steinem as a “true giant and a dynamic voice”.

She said: “ Gloria called herself ‘an entrepreneur of social change’. And she was.

“She devoted her life to the pursuit of equality and political change, working tirelessly for over 70 years to ensure each generation built upon the work of the previous one.

“We are forever grateful for her many accomplishments. She lit a torch many years ago. It is now our responsibility to keep it lifted into the future. May she rest in power.”

Dunham shared a photograph of the pair together on Instagram and said: “Despite your towering stature, your thousands of obligations, the urgency of your mission- you gave so many women the chance to know you. You weren’t just generous with your life force, your vision or your intellect.

“You worked so hard for us. You gave so much. And your memory will continue to do overtime to remind us what is possible when we are, as the bracelet you once gave me said, ‘linked not ranked’.”

Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said she was “heartsick” to learn of Steinem’s death.