Meghan Markle delivered a ‘pretty raw’ speech about George Floyd’s death ‘without notes’ after ‘lots of conversations’ about Black Lives Matter, a source have revealed.
The Duchess of Sussex broke her silence on the murder of George Floyd last night, declaring that ‘black lives matter’, and revealed that she had not spoken about his death before because she had been ‘nervous’.
Meghan, 38, gave an address to graduating pupils at her old school, Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, where she also named other African Americans who were killed in the US by police in recent years.
Insiders told Newsweek the royal was speaking off-the-cuff, revealing: ‘As you can probably tell, it’s pretty raw and she spoke without notes. But she’s been having lots of conversations about the issue before filming.’
Meghan Markle, 38, delivered her ‘pretty raw’ Black Lives Matter speech ‘without notes’, sources told Newsweek
According to the insider, Meghan and Prince Harry have been holding calls with community leaders about Black Lives Matter during the pandemic.
It comes after a source told royal reporter Omid Scobie: ‘Harry and Meghan have been having private conversations with community leaders and people at every level, to ensure that they understand current events.
Harper’s Bazaar’s royal editor Omid explained: ‘This is something that is incredibly personal to Meghan, especially given everything she has experienced.
‘And as a couple, it is, of course, very important. They are both feeling it, just like the rest of us.’
The Duchess of Sussex spoke out last week about the death of George Floyd, which has sparked protests across the world
In her poignant six-minute virtual speech delivered to pupils at her former school, Meghan said: ‘George Floyd’s life mattered and Breonna Taylor’s life mattered and Philando Castile’s life mattered and Tamir Rice’s life mattered.’
The other three people Meghan mentioned were killed by US police over the past six years. Meghan also referred to Los Angeles as the family’s ‘home town’ after moving there with Harry and their son Archie, one.
On speaking out about Mr Floyd, she said: ‘I wasn’t sure what I could say to you. I wanted to say the right thing and I was really nervous that it would get picked apart. And I realised the only wrong thing to say is to say nothing.’
The video was released to black women’s lifestyle magazine Essence, which published it on its website saying ‘courtesy of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’.
The Duchess of Sussex broke her silence on the murder of George Floyd earlier this week, declaring that ‘black lives matter’ and revealed that she had not spoken about his death before because she had been ‘nervous’. Meghan, 38, gave an address to graduating pupils at her old school, Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles (pictured)
The Duchess also said how the students are ‘going to have empathy for those who don’t see the world through the same lens that you do’, adding: With as diverse, vibrant and opened minded as I know the teachings at Immaculate Heart are, I know you know that black lives matter.’
Meghan also referred to some advice she was given by a teacher aged 15, saying: ‘I remember my teacher at the time, one of my teachers, Ms Pollia, said to me as I was leaving for a day of volunteering, “always remember to put other’s needs above your own fears”.
‘And that has stuck with me throughout my entire life and I have thought about it more in the last week than ever before.’
Meghan mentioned three other people who were killed by US police over the past six years during her speech to pupils at her old school. She also referred to Los Angeles as the family’s ‘home town’ after moving there with Harry and their son Archie, one (pictured together in South Africa in September)
Meghan was referring to her former theology teacher, Maria Pollia, who has previously described her as a ‘remarkable student’ who was ‘very enthusiastic about the material, but always took it a step further’.
Meghan also spoke to the students about their futures, saying: ‘You know that you’re going to rebuild, rebuild and rebuilt until it is rebuilt.
‘Because when the foundation is broken, so are we. You are going to lead with love, you are going to lead with compassion, you are going to use your voice.’
Protests have taken place across America and beyond after white police officer Derek Chauvin (seen right) knelt on unarmed George Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds last week, despite Floyd’s desperate repeated pleas for help crying, ‘I can’t breathe’. Floyd (left and right) passed out and later died
Her speech left some Immaculate Heart students in tears, with one on Twitter with the user name ‘blm • gia’ saying: ‘Meghan Markle talking about George Floyd and BLM in my virtual graduation. I’m crying.’
Mr Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died after white police officer Derek Chauvin put his knee on his neck in Minneapolis on May 25 for nine minutes.
At least 15,000 protesters have taken to the streets of London and cities across the world to march for black rights following the killing of George Floyd.