It’s been six months since Meghan Markle announced she’s stepping down as a senior royal. And now, the Duchess of Sussex, 38, just gave her first major speech since moving to Los Angeles with Prince Harry and Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.
Earlier today, Markle made a virtual appearance as a keynote speaker for the U.N. Foundation’s 2020 Girl Up Leadership Summit. During the speech, the royal indirectly addressed recent protests for the Black Lives Matter movement and encouraged listeners to be the voice of the next generation.
“I want to share something with you,” she said. “It’s that those in the halls and corridors and places of power—from lawmakers and world leaders to executives—all of those people, they depend on you more than you will ever depend on them. And here’s the thing: They know this.”
Markle continued, “They know that all of you, at a younger age than any modern comparison, are setting the tone for an equitable humanity. Not figuratively, literally. This is a humanity that desperately needs you. To push it, to push us, forcefully in a more inclusive, more just, and more empathetic direction. To not only frame the debate but be in charge of the debate—on racial justice, gender, climate change, mental health and well-being, on civic engagement, on public service, on so much more. That’s the work you’re already out there doing.”
The duchess also shared advice on how to support others during these tough times, adding, “We are not meant to be breaking each other down; we are meant to be building each other up. So, use your voice both on and offline to do just that—build each other up, support each other.”
Thank you, Meghan. We really needed this.