London schoolgirl says Meghan Markle's rousing equality speech was a 'big inspiration'

A head girl who met the Duchess of Sussex at her east London school says her rallying cry for more equality across the globe will be a “big inspiration” to young people in the UK.

Renee Palmer-Davies, 16, addressed Meghan with her own speech on inspirational women when the Duchess visited Robert Clack School in Dagenham in March this year.

She said Meghan’s address to the Girl Up Leadership Summit, her first major public speaking appearance since leaving the UK and stepping down as a senior royal, was “powerful and encouraged people to fight for justice and equality.”

At the online global summit yesterday, a UN initiative to empower young women, the duchess spoke on issues including gender equality, and racial injustice.

Renee said the issues she raised of mental health, treating people fairly online, and the Black Lives Matter movement were important to young people.

“I like what she said about building and lifting each other up, supporting each other,” she said. “She says fears paralyses people and she’s right we need to have confidence to believe in ourselves. She encourages everyone.”

Meghan urged youngsters to “keep challenging” powerful figures.

She said in her speech: “It’s only in that discomfort that we actually create the decisions to reimagine our standards, our policies and our leadership, to move towards real representation and meaningful influence over the structures of decision-making and power.”

Meghan’s visit to the Robert Clack school on International Women’s Day where she met Renee was one of her last solo engagements before departing for the US with Prince Harry after the pair announced they were stepping down from frontline royal duties.

Head boy Aker Okoye famously received a hug from Meghan during during an assembly, telling the packed hall of pupils: “She really is beautiful, innit?”

Read more

Meghan Markle tells of battle to 'chase convictions' at Girl Up summit

100 days from their royal exit: What's next for Team Sussex?

Meghan to join Michelle Obama for virtual gender equality summit