Just in time for International Women's Day, Meghan Markle has been appointed the role of Vice President for The Queen's Commonwealth Trust. Chosen by the Queen herself, Meghan will use her position to work with young leaders, particularly women, as they push for social change in communities within the Commonwealth and beyond.
In honor of International Women's Day, the Duchess of Sussex joined a panel of female leaders and activist in her first duty in her role. The panel was hosted by The Queen's Commonwealth Trust and took place at King's College London. Some of the other women on the panel were singer, activist, and philanthropist Annie Lennox, the former Prime Minster of Australia Julia Gillard, and Angie Murimirwa of Campaign for Female Education, a non-profit committed to eliminating poverty in Africa through the education and empowerment of women. Let's just say, this was one badass group of women.
"If things are wrong and there is a lack of justice and an inequality, someone needs to say something — and why can't it be you?" was one of the things Meghan said at the panel. She later continued, "I've said for a long time, you can be feminine and a feminist; you can be masculine. And I think in terms of masculinity, you understand that your strength includes knowing your vulnerabilities and your sense of self and security, and your confidence comes from knowing a woman by your side, not behind you, is actually something you should not be threatened about — as opposed, you should feel really empowered in having that."
And this isn't the first time Meghan has spoken out about women's rights. Whether at the Royal Foundation Forum in February 2018, or in New Zealand in October 2018, Meghan used her position in the public eye to make her views on women's rights known. Even before she was a royal, she wrote a piece for Time magazine entitled "How Periods Affect Potential," inspired by spending a week in India with World Vision Canada.
A true feminist through and through, we can't wait to see how Meghan (who is well into her third trimester by the way!) uses her new position as Vice President to bring more awareness and change to the treatment of women.
Happy International Women's day, ladies! We stand by each and every one of you.
