Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are calling on all Americans to "not only reflect" on the nation's politics, "but act."
The Dutch and Duchess of Sussex made their first TV appearance since they stepped down from their royal duties and moved to their Santa Barbara Home. In honor of National Voter Registration Day, the couple joined ABC's Time 100 special from what appears to be their spacious backyard to talk about creating compassionate communities through our words, our actions—and our votes.
The duchess stunned in a brown silk top with black cropped trousers and black heels, while Prince Harry wore a dark gray suit with brown shoes. Sitting on a wooden bench, with their black lab, Pula, wandering through the lush greenery behind them, the pair opened up about why Americans should participate in the upcoming election.
"Every four years, we are told the same thing, that 'This is the most important election of our lifetime.' But this one is," Markle said. "When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard. Your voice is a reminder that you matter. Because you do. And you deserve to be heard."
Prince Harry also revealed that, as a royal, he never had the opportunity to vote. He explained, "This election, I'm not going to be able to vote here in the U.S. But many of you may not know that I haven't been able to vote in the U.K. my entire life. As we approach this November, it's vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity."
He added, "When one person buys into negativity online, the effects are felt exponentially. It's time to not only reflect, but act."
Although Prince Harry won't be able to participate in the election, Markle will be making history as the first royal family member to exercise her right to vote, since her home state is California. During the When All Women Vote Livestream in August, she said, "When I think about voting and and why this is so exceptionally important for all of us, I would frame it as: We vote to honor those who came before us and to protect those who come after us. That's what community is about and that is specifically what this election is all about."
