Meghan Markle is back in the UK and made her first speech since she moved to the US with Prince Harry . Speaking at the One Young World summit at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall on 5 Sept., the Duchess declared, “it is very nice to be back in the UK”. The couple, who embarked on the trip without their children Archie,3, and one-year-old Lilibet, humbly travelled from London Euston to Manchester by train ahead of Meghan’s keynote speech on gender equality at the annual event. The Duchess has been a counsellor for the international sustainability organisation, which aims to empower young leaders, since 2014 – four years before she married into the Royal Family.
The former actress referenced her time as the star of legal TV drama “Suits”, and described her “nervousness” and the “pinch-me moment” of her first summit in Dublin eight years ago. Dressed in an all-red outfit made up of a bow blouse and tailored trousers from sustainable brand Another Tomorrow, with matching red Aquazzura heels, she reminisced: “I was the girl from Suits, and 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 invited to pull up a seat at the table. I was so overwhelmed by this experience that I think I even saved my little paper place card that said my name on it. Just proof, proof that I was there and proof that I belonged, because the truth was I wasn’t sure that I belonged.”
The One Young World summit is just one of a string of events lined up for Meghan and Harry during their UK trip . After landing on Sunday 4 Sept., – reportedly on a regular commercial flight – the pair headed to the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral. On 6 Sept., they fly to Germany for the Invictus Games Dusseldorf countdown event. Then they will return to the UK for the WellChild Awards in London on 8 Sept., where Harry will deliver a speech.
The couple’s European trip comes days after the 25-year anniversary of Princess Diana’s death, and a week after the release of Meghan’s bold interview with “The Cut”. In the article, the 41-year-old spoke about her post-royal life. As well as revealing little pieces of information about her marriage to Harry (who she calls “H” or “my love”), Meghan discussed her new Spotify podcast “Archetypes” , a potential upcoming documentary about the couple’s “love story”, and teaching Archie manners. Most notably, speaking about her royal in-laws and her own family, she said, “It takes a lot of effort to forgive. I’ve really made an active effort, especially knowing that I can say anything.”
It isn’t known exactly when the two will fly home to California, and it also isn’t known whether or not the couple will spend time with the Royal Family on the trip, although there is a gap in their schedule on Wednesday. The Queen is currently at Balmoral Castle, where she is set to appoint Liz Truss as the new Prime Minister on 6 Sept.
