Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan, called on the United Kingdom to confront its colonial past at a session of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust on July 1.
Prince Harry, who is the head of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, said, “People must acknowledge the past,” referring to the UK’s history and involvement with the countries that make up The Commonwealth — a collection of 54 sovereign states from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.
According to NBC News, the meeting was held online and brought together young people from Bahamas, U.K., and Australia, including several young Black leaders.
Conversations arose about fairness, justice, and equal rights. This was partly in response to the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement that has spread across the globe.
Prince Harry even touched on his own unconscious bias, according to CNN.
“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 realize 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,” Harry said.
The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan, also helped contribute to the session by adding how the Commonwealth can help young people.
Referring to the Commonwealth’s history and recent Black Lives Matter protests, Harry said with his wife Meghan, “There is no way that we can move forward unless we acknowledge the past.”