Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 05: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex clapping during the Opening Ceremony of the One Young World Summit 2022 at The Bridgewater Hall on September 05, 2022 in Manchester, England. The annual One Young World Summit brings together more than two thousand of the brightest young leaders from every country and sector, working to accelerate social impact both in-person and digitally. Meghan is a counsellor for the organisation, alongside Justin Trudeau, Sir Richard Branson, and Jamie Oliver, among others. Chris Jackson/Getty Images/IBTimes

KEY POINTS

  • Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made an appearance at the One Young World Summit in England Monday
  • The duchess recounted her experience working with One Young World in her keynote speech
  • The couple will attend more charitable events in the U.K. and in Germany this week

Meghan Markle spoke about her work with One Young World as she delivered the keynote speech during its annual summit this week.

Markle, 41, and her husband Prince Harry returned to the U.K. to attend the One Young World Summit in Manchester, England, Monday.

The Duchess of Sussex, who wore a bright red outfit and gold hoops and styled her hair in a sleek ponytail for the event, delivered her first speech in the U.K. since she and Prince Harry stepped back from their roles as working royals in 2020.

In her speech, Markle expressed her delight to be back in the country, three months after her and Prince Harry's visit for Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June.

"It's very nice to be back in the U.K., and it's very nice to be back with all of you at One World," she said, according to People.

Markle recalled her history with One Young World, with which she has been a counselor since 2014. The duchess told the summit attendees that she was "probably a lot like each of you" when she first got involved – "young, ambitious, advocating for the things I deeply and profoundly believed in."

Markle remembered feeling "overwhelmed" at the time being around world leaders, humanitarians and activists that she admired and saving her place card from the 2014 summit in Dublin, Ireland, as "proof" that she belonged. The former actress assured the young attendees that they also belonged while reflecting on feelings of self-doubt.

After becoming a mom to now-3-year-old son Archie and 1-year-old daughter Lilibet, Markle said her "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 gave a shoutout to Prince Harry for joining her at the event, sharing that "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 U.K. soil with him by my side, makes it all feel full circle."

Markle concluded her speech by telling the young people in the crowd that their "time is now" and that "important work can't wait for tomorrow."

Read more

Following their appearance at the One Young World Summit, Prince Harry and Markle will head to Germany for the Invictus Games' "One Year to Go" countdown event Tuesday.

The couple is then expected to return to the U.K. to attend the WellChild Awards Thursday.

Meghan Markle
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 05: (EDITORS NOTE: Retransmission with alternate crop.) Meghan, Duchess of Sussex makes the keynote speech during the Opening Ceremony of the One Young World Summit 2022 at The Bridgewater Hall on September 05, 2022 in Manchester, England. The annual One Young World Summit brings together more than two thousand of the brightest young leaders from every country and sector, working to accelerate social impact both in-person and digitally. Meghan is a counsellor for the organisation, alongside Justin Trudeau, Sir Richard Branson, and Jamie Oliver, among others. IBTimes/Chris Jackson/Getty Images
United kingdom