'RIGHT THE WRONGS'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle say we must acknowledge ‘uncomfortable’ past of the Commonwealth
MEGHAN MARKLE and Prince Harry today declared we must acknowledge the Commonwealth's "uncomfortable" past as they spoke out about equality.
Prince Harry appeared to reference the British Empire, adding: "There is no turning back now".
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Prince Harry and Meghan made the comments as they took part in the Queen's Commonwealth Trust video call, one of the network's weekly sessions set up in response to the growing Black Lives Matter movement.
Speaking today, the 35-year-old prince 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."
The Commonwealth is formed by almost all countries who were once ruled by the British Empire by Prince Harry's ancestors.
Speaking from LA where they are staying at Tyler Perry's £15m mansion, Harry and Meghan urged people to get involved in uncomfortable discussions.
Standing next to her husband, former actress Meghan, 38, added: "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."
The couple joined Chrisann Jarrett, co-founder of We Belong, which is led by young people who migrated to the UK, and Alicia Wallace, director of Equality Bahamas.
Also on the July 1 chat were Mike Omoniyi, founder of The Common Sense Network and Abdullahi Alim, who leads the World Economic Forum's Global Shapers.
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And Tory MP Andrew Rosindell predicted that the Queen would not be "pleased" with her grandson's comments.
He : "I'm surprised that he would be making comments like that. I don't agree with what he is saying. We should look forward not back.
"As someone who has stepped out of the Royal Family he should focus on his own life and not get involved in politics.
"That is not the appropriate thing to do. I'm not sure his grandmother would be too pleased either."
In the video, Harry also addressed the issue of unconscious bias, sharing his own perspective.
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 ship.
Meghan Markle
He said: "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."
It comes after Harry last week outlined his personal commitment to tackling institutional racism.
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Harry and Meghan quit their roles as senior working royals earlier this year, declaring they wanted to be financially independent.
They then relocated to Canada with their son Archie before moving to Meghan's hometown of LA.
After the Sussexes stepped down, Harry had to leave his role as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador.
But he and Meghan retained their posts as president and vice-president of the Queen's Commonwealth Trust.
Harry told those taking part in the call: "This change is needed and it's coming."
He added: "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."
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