Meghan and Harry attended the ‘Your Commonwealth’ Youth Challenge reception at Marlborough House in London to kickstart the Commonwealth Youth Leadership workshop series.
The ‘Your Commonwealth’ Youth Challenge reception was an opportunity for Harry and Meghan to connect with young leaders and understand their initiatives for the Commonwealth. The young people spend these days attending workshops to brainstorm and generate ideas they want to bring forward for the Commonwealth.
Kensington Palace said: “The ‘Your Commonwealth’ Youth Challenge event is helping its young leaders develop their ideas on the type of Commonwealth they want to see in 2040,”
Meghan and Harry arrived holding hands. They received a warm welcome from Patricia Scotland who greeted them at their cars. As they made their way towards the house they were treated to a musical performance by a steel pan band.
Some more footage of their arrival:
As I told you before the event took place at Marlborough House. Marlborough House is placed in St James’s, City of Westminster, London and is the headquarters of the Commonwealth of Nations and the seat of the Commonwealth Secretariat. It was built for Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, the favorite, and confidante of Queen Anne in 1711. For over a century it served as the London residence of the dukes of Marlborough. It became a royal residence through the 19th century and first half of the 20th. It was leased by Queen Elizabeth II to the Commonwealth Secretariat beginning in 1965.
The reception is hosted by Patricia Scotland, the secretary-general of the Commonwealth.
About the Commonwealth Youth Forum:
“The Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF) is organised as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). It aims to promote cross-cultural connections and to achieve consensus among youth leaders on the policies required to address the challenges and opportunities facing young people.”
Meghan and Harry mingled with members of the forum members who shared their ideas on the type of Commonwealth they want to see:
Prince Harry then addressed the audience during a speech where he said: ‘Meghan and I are incredibly excited to meet so many of you representing the future of the Commonwealth’
His full speech:
“Good evening everyone,
It’s a huge pleasure to be here at The Commonwealth Youth Challenge.
If there is one group of young people who can rise to the challenge of solving the world’s greatest problems — I know we’ve come to the right place!
As many of you know, earlier this year I was honoured to be named The Queen’s Commonwealth Youth Ambassador.
My job as your Ambassador is to listen and learn from you, to amplify your voices and to bring your ideas to the attention of decision makers. It only seems right that as the youth of today, you should play a part in shaping the policies which will make the future better for everyone. I don’t take this job lightly. After all, this means that I have the opportunity to work alongside 1.4 billion young people across the Commonwealth.
In fact, one of my first acts as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador at CHOGM was to announce the new Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships, to help people like you study across the Commonwealth. I’m proud to share that 35,000 students from Fiji to Belize are already benefiting from these scholarships — with more to come next year. I encourage everyone here to apply!
This week, you have been challenged to think about the future. You have been asked to help envision what we all strive for: a Commonwealth that is steeped in fairness, sustainability, prosperity and security.
You have been discussing and debating what the world will look like in 2040. That’s only 22 years from now – and when thinking about the history of the world, that’s just one small blip of time.
The time it takes to make great advancements in science, medicine, technology, and even human understanding, is rapidly shrinking. The pace of technology and innovation will accelerate change to make the next 22 years feel like 200 years of progress.
In the past few years alone, we have seen smartphone technology used to detect eye disease for people living in remote parts of the world, artificial intelligence is being applied to reduce our energy use, and virtual reality is taking students from the classroom to experience life on mountain tops and ocean floors.
When talking about the future, recognising the advances and progress that we make year by year, month by month, and day by day, we know the potential for what can be achieved by 2040 is limitless!
Social change is also accelerating, and awareness is quickly turning into action. Just in the last year, the world’s understanding of the damage being done by single use plastics has grown rapidly and many governments and communities are taking big steps to tackle this very challenging problem. Whether it’s biodegradable food packaging or limiting plastics use, there are good examples of everyone doing their part and I am sure many of you will play a role in your own communities to identify problems, but better yet, to develop solutions.
For all of you outside, now, here who have been thinking about the potential for the future – I encourage you to think of what you can contribute, and what you can encourage others to contribute as well. Amongst all of you are innovators, entrepreneurs, and educators – ready to tackle climate change, social injustice and inequality.
Together you will take on these big challenges – and be champions for your communities, for your families, your countries, and our Commonwealth.
Meghan and I are incredibly excited to meet so many of you representing the future of the Commonwealth. Later this year we will embark on a tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga. This will be a wonderful opportunity for us to meet and hear from more young people about their ideas for creating a better future.
We can’t wait to see you in action in your home countries and learn about what you’re doing to better the Commonwealth, and the world, in 2040 and beyond.
Thank you”
The evening ended with musical performances.
Meghan really stunned that day in the Brandon Maxwell Yellow Crepe Midi Dress !!
In a statement Brandon Maxwell said that “when I first saw Meghan in our ss18 yellow sheath dress, I immediately felt so proud. She looks beautiful and I’m thrilled that she chose Brandon Maxwell for this occasion.”
Brandon Maxwell shared it on their Instagram profile as well:
Meghan accessorised with her Adina Reyter 14k Gold Three Diamond Amigos Curve Earrings.
And finished the look with a pair of Manolo Blahnik
BB pumps in beige suede.
Prince Harry and Meghan , Duchess of Sussex, were bringing light, a global vision for the future of young people, with love and respect for diversity, which so much represents Meghan itself, Duchess of Sussex. In times of change, globalization, they were a bonding link, and unfortunately for many backwardness with lies and evil, ia light of hope that caused more fears than confidence in the great work they did in the front line, in their greatest functions, although Harry and Meghan have not abandoned them and continue to work and help young people, now even more, globally. The Service is Universal. Young people are the future. They know this and the world society too. Prince Harry is a amazing caring man, Harry works with his beloved woman Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who has made a real team to help others, with facts, especially those most in need. They to make the World a better place to live. This is The Service is Universal: love , respect an Hope with facts of compassion in action, diversity , equality , empower to girls, women , children, health with vaccines of COVID for Countries most in need without resources. They are an inspiration of love , solidarity, kindness, respect for diversity , HOPE!!!