Recovery must focus on women: Meghan

PANDEMIC FALLOUT

The coronavirus pandemic has “wiped out” a generation of economic gain for women of colour, Meghan Markles says.

In her first television appearance since she and Prince Harry were interviewed by Oprah Winfrey, the duchess recorded the video message for Vax Live, a fundraising event calling for equitable global distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“As campaign chairs of Vax Live, my husband and I believe it's critical that our recovery prioritizes the health, safety and success of everyone — and particularly women, who have been disproportionately affected by this pandemic,” she said in the message.

“Women, and especially women of colour, have seen a generation of economic gain wiped out.”

Speaking from the garden of her home in Montecito, Calif., the pregnant duchess noted that since the pandemic began, almost 5.5 million women had lost work in the U.S., and 47 million more globally were expected to slip into extreme poverty.

“My husband and I are thrilled to soon be welcoming a daughter,” she added with a smile.

“It's a feeling of joy we share with millions of other families around the world. When we think of her, we think of all the young women and girls around the globe who must be given the ability and support to lead us forward.

“Their future leadership depends on the decisions we make and the actions we take now, to set them up, to set all of us up, for a successful, equitable and compassionate tomorrow.”

Meghan, wearing a $3,000 dress by Carolina Herrera, added: “We want to make sure that as we recover, we recover stronger; that as we rebuild, we rebuild together.”

Last week, it was announced that Meghan will be publishing a children's book titled The Bench about the relationship between a father and son based on her husband and their son, Archie.

The Bench will be published June 8, with Meghan narrating an audiobook version, publisher Random House Children's Books said.

Last month it was announced Harry will also be spending more time in the public eye, in a “moving and uplifting” feature on the Invictus Games.

Harry will appear on camera and act as executive producer for the feature, the first documentary series in his multimillion-dollar deal with Netflix.

Heart of Invictus will follow the competitors as they prepare for the 2022 games in The Hague.