Prince Harry And Meghan Say The Commonwealth ‘Must Acknowledge Past Wrongs’
Prince Harry and Meghan appeared in a video call with young leaders to discuss about the fight for equality. The couple took part in one of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust’s online weekly sessions, set up in response to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Prince Harry is the president of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, while Meghan is vice-president. They have kept their positions despite their departure from their frontline royal roles.
Speaking at the session, Harry encouraged Britain Britain to reckon with its colonial past. He said the Commonwealth to commit to reflecting on its past if it wanted to have a future.Â
Harry said: “When you look across the Commonwealth, there is no way that we can move forward unless we acknowledge the past. So many people have done such an incredible job of acknowledging the past and trying to right those wrongs. But I think we all acknowledge there is so much more still to do.
“It’s not going to be easy and in some cases it’s not going to be comfortable. But it needs to be done, because, guess what, everybody benefits.”
Meghan focused on how the Commonwealth can support young people. She said:Â “We’re going to have to be a little uncomfortable right now, because it’s only in pushing through that discomfort that we get to the other side of this and find the place where a high tide raises all ships.
“Equality does not put anyone on the back foot, it puts us all on the same footing – which is a fundamental human right.”
Harry also talked about the issue of unconscious bias. “We can’t deny or ignore the fact that all of us have been educated to see the world differently.
“However, once you start to realise that there is that bias there, then you need to acknowledge it, you need to do the work to become more aware… so that you can help stand up for something that is so wrong and should not be acceptable in our society today.”
He continued: “This change is needed and it’s coming. The optimism and the hope that we get is from listening and speaking to people like you. Because there is no turning back now, everything is coming to a head.
“Solutions exist and change is happening far quicker than it ever has done before.”