“It is very nice to be back in the UK”, the Duchess of Sussex said in her first speech in Britain since she stepped down as a “working royal.”
As Meghan Markle kicked off the One Young World conference in Manchester on Monday night, she was greeted with applause.
The Duchess challenged young leaders from all across the world to “cement their place in history” by working to “create a better future” during her keynote speech, which was a plea for global change.
She began her speech at Bridgewater Hall by saying, “It is very nice to be back in the UK and it is very nice to be back with all of you at One Young World”.
Since 2014, Markle has been a counselor at One Young World.
She talked about her last appearance at the summit in London in 2019 when she had married and had a son Archie since her previous appearance.
“It’s fair to say my life had changed rather significantly… My worldview had expanded exponentially. Seeing the global community through the eyes of my child 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?'”
Markle also mentioned how pleased she was that Prince Harry had joined her at the summit in 2022.
“I am thrilled that my husband is able to join me here this time. To be able to see and witness firsthand my respect for this organization, this incredible organization, and all that it provides as well as accomplishes.
“One Young World has been an integral part of my life for so many years before I met him.
“So to meet again here on UK soil with him by my side makes it all feel full circle.
“For both of us, bearing witness to the power that you hold in your hands and the unbridled enthusiasm and energy that you have to see things come to fruition, it is just an absolute privilege.
“We often hear people say ‘the time is now,’ but I’m going to double down on that by saying ‘your time is now.'”
As per the Independent, Markle urged the young leaders to not let their important work “wait for tomorrow”.
“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.”
Markle gave her first speech since she and Harry left their royal duties more than two years ago.
They only made their first public appearance in Britain since leaving for California in 2020 in June as part of Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.