Meghan Markle Includes Footage of Her as a Child in Day of the Girl Video

The Duke And Duchess Of Sussex Visit Johannesburg - Day One

(Image credit: Pool/Samir Hussein)

published 11 October 2019

Today is International Day of the Girl, created by the UN to highlight suffering and inequality of women around the world and celebrate women's achievements and potential. Meghan Markle, who has made women's rights a cause of hers for a long, long time, just released a video via their Sussex Royal Instagram. And, lo and behold, there's footage of an 11-year-old Meghan championing a cause!

The caption includes the explanation: "The Duchess of Sussex has been a long time advocate for women’s and girls rights and at the age of eleven campaigned against a sexist advertisement, which was then changed. No matter what age, or what background you have the power to make an impact.

"HRH recently shared a quote during a speech in Cape Town: 'Visualize your highest self, and show up as her.' To all of the young girls reading this today on International Day of the Girl, that quote is for you."

Ok, first, not that we need it, but this is definitely proof that Markle has been doing really great work for a LONG time. And second—was she not the cutest little kid ever? So adorable, I can't even stand it. Apparently there's also never-before-seen footage of her in Africa as well.

In the video, young Markle explains, "If you see something that you don't like or are are offended by, on television or any other place, write letters and send them to the right people and you can really make a difference for not just yourself but lots of other people."

Here's the video:

A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal)
A photo posted by on

Gah, I love it so much!

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.