Meghan speaks about her mixed race heritage
THE Duchess of Sussex has publicly spoken for the first time since becoming a royal about being a “woman of colour” as she gave a rousing speech to South African township teenage girls.
Surrounded by the young women who have benefited from an initiative on selfdefence and empowerment Meghan took the unusual step of highlighting her mixed-race heritage as her tour of Africa with Harry and son Archie began.
Speaking in Nyanga township in Cape Town the duchess said: “And just on one personal note, may I just say that while I’m here with my husband as a member of the Royal Family, I want you to know from me I am here with you as a mother, as a wife, as a woman, as a woman of colour and as your sister.”
In a lighter moment Meghan, who told her audience she was making her first visit to South Africa, danced with some performers after one woman Lilitha Mazana, 23, took her hand.
The dancer from the Nyanga arts centre said: “Meghan was a good dancer, she’s very nice. Her dancing is fantastic - I’ve been dancing 10 years.”
Harry also spoke, and said it was “incredibly important” they started their 10-day visit in a South African township to learn about life in black settlements - which have seen increasing amounts of violence against women.
Meghan made the point of telling the young women and others from the community it was her “first time” in South Africa adding “you’re incredible and so powerful, because you’re all powerful”.
Campaigners took to the streets of Cape Town earlier this month, following a series of attacks.