The speaking opportunities appear to be coming in thick and fast for Meghan Markle, as it was announced today that the Duchess will appear as a special guest at a summit for the Girl Up campaign next week.
The campaign organization, which has the motto ‘uniting girls to change the world’, revealed that the royal will appear at its virtual 2020 Global Leadership Summit, alongside other big-ticket names including Michelle Obama and Priyanka Chopra.
The 38-year-old royal is a keynote speaker at the online event, which is taking place from July 13 to 15, the Girl Up campaign announced in a post shared on its social media platforms.
It is the latest in a series of public steps taken by Prince Harry and Meghan as they shift the focus of their royal work towards racial equality and social justice.
In demand! The flyer posted by the Girl Up campaign today on their social media platforms, which announced that the Duchess of Sussex will be a keynote speaker at their online leadership summit next week
Meghan, 38, is now more than used to speaking via meeting software having dialed into several events recently, including an address last month to her former high school, the Immaculate Heart in Los Angeles, where the royal spoke to leavers about the death of George Floyd
The post announcing the Duchess of Sussex’s appearance read: ‘The present is female! But don’t take our word for it.
‘Hear from our keynote speaker Meghan Markle, The Duchess of Sussex, as she takes the stage at our 2020 Leadership Summit, happening virtually July 13-15!’
The campaign group said this year’s summit promises to be ‘unforgettable with interactive virtual workshops, panels with global leaders, and so much more’.
The colorful flyer saw the Duchess pictured centre against a shiny background, with the Girl Up campaign’s yellow logo across the top.
Earlier this week, the campaign group announced that actor, producer and activist Priyanka Chopra would be taking part in a Q&A at next week’s summit.
And a week ago, it was revealed that the former First Lady Michelle Obama would be offering a special message to delegates.
Girl Up shared: ‘We have some BIG news!! Former U.S. First Lady @michelleobama will share a special message on behalf of @girlsopportunityalliance at our 2020 @GirlUpCampaign Leadership Summit!’
The Girl Up Global Leadership Summit is part of an initiative started by the UN, which is ‘dedicated to securing equal opportunities for underprivileged adolescent girls in developing countries such as Ethiopia, Malawi, Guatemala, and India’.
Initially, the leadership summit was due to take place in Washington, D.C., however it was moved to an online format over fears about safety amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In good company! Meghan joins a stellar line-up at the event, which will include a message from former First Lady Michelle Obama
Speaking from his Los Angeles home, Harry said: ‘When you look across the Commonwealth, there is no way that we can move forward unless we acknowledge the past
Prince Harry risked upsetting the royal family by insisting the Commonwealth ‘must acknowledge the past’ in a video call with Meghan and young leaders from across the Commonwealth. Pictured, Chrisann Jarrett (UK) (top left), Mike Omoniyi (UK), (top right), Alicia Wallace (Bahamas) (bottom left) and Abdullahi Alim (Australia) (bottom right)
The Duke of Sussex, 35, made the comment as he joined wife Meghan, 38, for a video call with young leaders from the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust last week
Earlier this week, Prince Harry faced criticism after he appeared to take a swipe at the British Empire by saying the history of the Commonwealth ‘must be acknowledged’, even if it’s ‘uncomfortable’.
The Duke of Sussex, 35, made the comment as he joined wife Meghan for a video call with young leaders from the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust last week that was made public today.
As part of the discussion on ‘justice and equal rights’, Harry said the Commonwealth needs to follow others who have ‘acknowledged the past’ and are ‘trying to right their wrongs’, and also admitted to having his own ‘unconscious bias’.
Meanwhile Meghan said it is also a time of ‘reckoning’ when individuals should be putting their hands up to ‘own’ their past wrongdoings.
Speaking from his Los Angeles home, Harry, whose grandmother the Queen is head of the Commonwealth, said: ‘When you look across the Commonwealth, there is no way that we can move forward unless we acknowledge the past.
‘So many people have done such an incredible job of acknowledging the past and trying to right those wrongs, but I think we all acknowledge there is so much more still to do.’
The statement appears to be a swipe at the British Empire, which was ruled over by his ancestors and led to the creation of the Commonwealth, and goes against protocol of royals not wading into politics.
The intervention was criticized by Tory MP Andrew Rosindell, who told MailOnline Prince Harry’s comments were ‘disappointing’ and would not ‘please’ the Queen.
Mr Rosindell said: ‘I understand that Harry and Meghan have taken a step out from being members of the Royal Family.
‘Therefore I’m surprised that he would be making comments like that. I don’t agree with what he is saying. We should look forward not back. As someone who has stepped out of the Royal Family he should focus on his own life and not get involved in politics.
‘That is not the appropriate thing to do. I’m not sure his grandmother would be too pleased either.’