Meghan’s made-up in Dagenham empowerment on surprise visit to school
The Duchess of Sussex hailed the famous women strikers of Dagenham on a surprise visit to a school in the town. Before International Women’s Day today, she spoke to girls at the school near London on Friday. She was joined by Geraldine Dear, one of the original Ford sewing machine workers behind the 1968 strike that led to the Equal Pay Act 1970 – one of the biggest changes in employment rights for women. Marking the 50th anniversary of the workers’ success, which featured in the film Made In Dagenham, Meghan said: “It is the best example of no matter how small you might feel, how low you may feel on the ladder or the totem pole, no matter what colour you are, no matter what gender you are, you have a voice and the right to speak up for what is right.” She told pupils at the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, east London, on Friday: “I just encourage and empower each of you to really stand in your truth, to stand for what is right, to continue to respect each other, for you young men to continue to value and appreciate the women in your lives and set the example for some men who are not seeing it that same way.” Last night she accompanied Prince Harry on his final engagement as Captain General of the Royal Marines at the Mountbatten Festival of Music in London, which will mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the 80th anniversary of the formation of the Commandos. It was claimed yesterday that Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, was upset that Meghan’s visit to the Theatre Royal last week had overshadowed her speech about domestic abuse. The couple will attend their final engagement as senior royals at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey tomorrow.