Meghan Markle has always placed women’s rights and empowerment at the top of her list, so her plans for 2019’s International Women’s Day is no surprise.
On Friday, Kensington Palace announced that the Duchess of Sussex will speak at a panel of female thought-leaders and activists on the holiday, which is celebrated on Friday, March 8. The panelists include Adwoa Aboah, who is the founder of the online community Girls Talk that provides a space for girls to talk about issues that matter to them, former Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard, and musician and activist Annie Lennox.
“In front of an audience of students, opinion formers and young leaders, Her Royal Highness will join the panel to discuss the importance of International Women’s Day, and the spotlight it can bring to obstacles which still affect female empowerment across the world, including access to education and limitations within employment,” a statement from the palace read. “The discussion will also cover the positive opportunities that come when women are given wider access and equal opportunity, whether that be in the UK or elsewhere in the world.”
The Duchess of Sussex will be joined for this unique #IWD2019 panel by:
- @AnnieLennox, Founder of @TheCircleNGO
- Adwoa Aboah, Founder of @GurlsTalk
- @JuliaGillard, Chair of @GIWLkings
- Chrisann Jarrett, Founder of @LetUs_Learn
- Angeline Murimirwa, Executive Director @Camfed— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 1, 2019
According to People, International Women’s Day has been an important day for Markle. In 2015, she gave a speech at a UN Women’s event, saying, “It is said that girls with dreams become women with vision. May we empower each other to carry our such vision—because it isn’t enough to simply talk about equality. One must believe it. And it isn’t enough to simply believe in it. One must work at it. Let us work at it. Together. Starting now.”
In 2018, Markle and then-fiancé Prince Harry visited the Stemettes project in Birmingham. The project aimed to inspire young girls to pursue STEM careers (science, tech, engineering and math), People reported. During the visit, Prince Harry reportedly introduced a 10-year-old aspiring actress to Markle, who shared some advice to her.
“Meghan told me that I can achieve whatever I want to achieve. And Meghan said she would like to see me on TV when I become an actress,” Sophia Richards said, per People. “It was a dream come true. I will never forget this day.”
Sadly, tickets to the panel at King’s College London will not be available to the general public. But, according to the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust website, the event will be broadcast on their Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.