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Meghan Makes Makes Heartfelt Speech About George Floyd During First Appearance In Two Months

Meghan Makes Makes Heartfelt Speech About George Floyd During First Appearance In Two Months

"The only wrong thing to say is nothing."

Joanna Freedman

Joanna Freedman

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have understandably been keeping a low profile for the last two months, since the pandemic took hold.

The pair have not spoken publicly on their social media page since March 30th - although they did share Martin Luther King Jr's words on the Queen's Commonwealth Trust page, which they oversee.

And they made their last public appearance as working Royals back at the beginning of March (9th), when they joined the Queen and the rest of their family at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.

But the Duchess of Sussex broke her silence to comment on the "absolutely devastating" death of George Floyd in the US this week.

Watch her message here:

In the clip - which was filmed for a virtual graduation ceremony at her old school, Immaculate Heart, in Los Angeles - Meghan, 38, said she was nervous about speaking out on Floyd's death, but had decided "the only wrong thing to say is nothing".

She told the young people they should strive to be part of the "rebuilding" and encouraged them to "use [their] voice in a stronger way than [they] have ever been able to" through voting.

"I know that you know that black lives matter, so I am already excited at what you are going to do in the world," Meghan's speech went on.

"I wasn't sure what I could say to you. I wanted to say the right thing and I was really nervous that it would get picked apart.

"And I realised the only wrong thing to say is nothing. Because George Floyd's life mattered and Breonna Taylor's life mattered and Philando Castile's life mattered and Tamir Rice's life mattered ... and so did so many other people whose names we know and whose names we do not know."

Meghan admitted she was scared to speak at first (
Immaculate Heart High School)

The former Suits actress then looked back at advice she was given by a teacher, while volunteering aged 15, echoing the words: "Always remember to put another's needs above your fears".

"So the first thing I want to say to you is that I'm sorry. I am so sorry that you have to grow up in the world where this is still present," she went on.

"I was 11 or 12 years old and it was the LA riots, which was also triggered by senseless acts of racism.

"I remember the curfew and I remember rushing back home and on that drive home seeing ash fall from the sky and smelling the smoke and seeing the smoke billow out of building and seeing people running out of buildings and looting.

"I remember seeing men in the back of a van just holding guns and rifles. I remember pulling up at the house and seeing the tree that had always been there, completely charred. And those memories don't go away."

Meghan and Harry last appeared at the Commonwealth Day service back in March (
PA)

She added: "I am sorry that in a way we have not gotten the world to a place that you deserve it to be."

After the speech broadcast at the graduation, Meghan also shared the clip with women's lifestyle publication, Essence.

Meghan's speech comes after George Floyd, 46, died in Minneapolis on Monday, May 25th, after police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes while he lay handcuffed on the floor.

After the distressing video of Floyd's final moments circulated online, protests took place in his hometown. The pleas for change quickly spread to other cities across the USA and the world, with Black Lives Matter marches taking place across the UK this week.

Chauvin has now been charged with second degree murder, and all four officers involved have been charged with aiding and abetting.

Featured Image Credit: Immaculate Heart High School

Topics: Celebrity Entertainment, Celebrity News, Royals, Meghan Markle