Meghan and Harry's heartfelt mission in Colombia: A speech in Spanish
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have spent the last few days in Colombia. On Sunday, the former actress gave a speech. See what she had to say.
9:52 AM EDT, August 19, 2024
Although Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stepped away from their royal duties over four years ago, they still often behave like full-fledged royal family members, making official visits to various countries.
Over the past few days, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been in Colombia, promoting their foundation's activities, specifically a project to protect young people on social media. During their stay in South America, the parents of Archie and Lilibet participated in numerous meetings that received widespread media coverage.
Meghan Markle prepared a speech in Spanish
On Sunday, the Sussexes appeared in a theater in Cali, surrounded by dozens of armed police officers and soldiers. There, Markle, accompanied by the Vice President of Colombia, Francia Marquez, delivered a speech in Spanish. According to the "Daily Mail," the former actress referred to her Nigerian heritage and talked about how at the age of 11, she wrote a letter to Procter & Gamble, calling attention to a discriminatory soap advertisement against women.
I would like to start in Spanish because we are in your country, my husband and I, and we can feel the embrace of Colombia - she began.
So thank you, thank you very much, because the culture, the history, everything has been like a dream on this trip. Sorry if my Spanish is not perfect because I learned it 20 years ago in Argentina, but I'm trying here because I can feel this community and this feeling which is the best in the world - she continued.
Meghan Markle recalls a childhood story
I would say, from my standpoint, that I was very fortunate that from a very young age to feel as though my voice was being heard. And I think that is a luxury that a lot of young girls and women aren't often afforded. I was 11-years-old, and you may know this story, I had seen a commercial that I felt was sexist, and I wrote a letter, several letters, about it, and the commercial was changed when you're 11-years-old, and you realise very quickly that your small voice can have a very large impact. I think it creates the framework to feel empowered to use your voice, because you know you're being listened to. It doesn't ever feel good to use your voice and no one hears you. That's not ideal - she told the audience.
Meghan Markle on her mother and daughter
At one point, Meghan also mentioned the women closest to her: her mother and daughter.
For me, I think I find inspiration in so many of the strong women that are around me. My mother being one of them. I think life is full of surprises and can be quite complex - she said, adding:
I certainly try to do as a mother is to encourage our daughter - at three she has found her voice and we are so proud of that.
Meghan Markle on her foundation's activities
Next, the 43-year-old directly referred to her foundation.
So for us and the work that we do with our Archewell Foundation, certainly the work that we do as parents, as I do as a mother, is ensuring that young girls feel as though their voices are being heard, and also that young boys are being raised to listen and to hear those young women as well. And the same goes for adult women and men. This isn't something that can be solely responsible and in the hands of just women - she said, continuing:
My husband is great testament to, the role of men in this of empowering women, of allowing them to know that their voices are heard.
In the end, Harry's wife added:
So we just recently launched a program called The Parents Network, which is for parents who have lost children or have encountered the worst possible challenges and level of grief as a result of online harms, and allowing those mothers, those parents, to be heard, is very key to the work that we're doing.
After everything, the Prince joined his beloved on stage for some commemorative group photos.