By Sheila Mckenzie-
The Duchess of Sussex has given her first speech in Uk, since stepping down from royal duties.
Looking elegant in her bright red dress, Meghan Markle appeared relaxed and upbeat about her speech, as she told young leaders from around the world “you are the future, you are the present” in her first UK speech since stepping back as a senior royal.
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Prince Harry was also in attendance as Meghan gave a short speech at the opening ceremony of the One Young World summit at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.
Meghan told young leaders from more than 190 countries: “You are the ones driving the positive and necessary change across the globe now, in this very moment.
“And for that I am so grateful to be in your company today.”
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She also told those gathered: “You are the future…. you are also the present.”
Meghan also spoke about having a “pinch me moment” after the first time she was asked to be a counsellor for One Young World in 2014.
She said: “And there I was, the girl from Suits. I was surrounded by world leaders, humanitarians, prime ministers and activists that I had such a deep and long-standing respect and admiration for.
“And I was allowed in, to pull up a seat at the table.
“I was so overwhelmed by this experience, I think, I think I even saved my little paper place-marker with my name on it.
“Just proof – proof that I was there, proof that I belonged, because the truth was, I wasn’t sure that I belonged.
“I was so nervous, I doubted myself and I wondered, wondered if I was good enough to be there?”
But she added One Young World, “saw in me, just as I see in you, the present and the future”.
Meghan told the 2,000 or so delegates listening to her speech: “I want to make that point because often times I speak to young adults about the years ahead.
“About what you will do, about what you will have to adopt to fix from previous generations and also what legacy you will leave.
“Too often in that, we neglect the point – you are doing it now.
“You, here, in this present moment, this is where it is all beginning.”
Before the duchess’ speech, Harry and Meghan were sat centre stage on a bench together as they watched bearers carry the flags of more than 200 countries.
She spoke of her “nervousness” and the “pinch-me moment” of her first summit. “I was the girl from Suits, and I was surrounded by world leaders, humanitarians, prime ministers and activists,” she said.
By the 2019 summit, she said it was “fair to say, my life had changed”.
Meghan said: “My worldview had expanded exponentially, seeing the global community through the eyes of my child [Archie, born 6 May 2019], and I would ask what is this world he would come to adopt, and what can we do, what can I do to make it better.”
She was thrilled once again to be back with Harry. “To meet again here with him by my side makes it all feel full circle,” she said.
“We often hear people say the time is now, but I’m going to double down on that by saying that your time is now. The important work can’t wait for tomorrow.
“And this week the world is watching as you cement your place in history by showcasing the good that you are doing today in the present moment, as we embrace the moment of now to create a better tomorrow.”
Their UK trip comes just days after Meghan’s wide-ranging interview with The Cut magazine, in which she said she had “really made an active effort to forgive” both her in-laws and members of her own family after stepping back from royal duties.
She added that she is “still healing” from the ordeal.
The entirety of what forgiveness must truly entail will be the subject of future assessment and debate by this publication in the days and weeks ahead.
The former Suits actress also said that “just by existing” she and Harry were “upsetting the dynamic of the hierarchy” before they stepped down as senior working royals.
The royal family is said to be upset about her latest interview with The Cut Magazine.
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