Defy distortion and dare to be great, Duke tells young activists
THE Duke of Sussex yesterday warned youth activists that young people are being “inundated” with distortions of the truth.
The Duke, who was addressing WE Day UK, an initiative to encourage young people to take part in positive global action, brought his wife Meghan on stage at the Wembley SSE Arena to ear-splitting screams of approval.
He told his audience that too many young people were exposed to sources “trying to manipulate the power of positive thinking”. Saying they must not be discouraged, he implored: “Less screen time, more face-to-face time.”
The Duke’s speech came soon after the Royal family issued new guidelines for its social media, acknowledging they had been a forum for abusive and unacceptable commentary often centred on the Duchess of Sussex.
The Duke told his audience: “Every day you are inundated with an overexposure of advertising and mainstream media, social media and endless comparisons, distorting the truth, and trying to manipulate the power of positive thinking.
“But you don’t let them sway you. Because you don’t need to hide behind your device to share your voice. You confidently voice your opinions because you can embrace them proudly.
“As my wife often reminds me with one of her favourite quotes by Martin Luther King Jr – ‘Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that’.”
The Duchess made her surprise appearance on stage, as the Duke told his audience he would “try to drag her out” to say hello. Then, as the couple stood with arms around each other, he said: “Guys, I am with you. We are with you. Get to work.”
In an address based on tackling the “absolutely crucial” causes of mental ill-health and saving the planet, the Duke urged his young listeners to be “mindful” of their feelings and surroundings. He also praised today’s youth for being “the most engaged generation in history”.
Ending his address with a to-do list, the Duke said: “Be braver, be stronger, be kind to each other, be kind to yourselves, have less screen time, and more face-to-face time, exceed expectations, eliminate plastics, conserve water, protect wildlife and their unique habitat, keep empathy alive, ask your friends how they are doing and listen to the answer, be honest, take risks, change your thoughts and change the world.
“Dare to be the greatest generation of all time,” he concluded.