Meghan urges men to honor the women in their lives
The Associated Press | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 4 months AGO
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, joins in a discussion of the "Senior Debate Squad" at the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, in eastern London, during a surprise visit to celebrate International Women's Day, Friday, March 6, 2020. Meghan visited the school, addressing pupils in an assembly ahead of the worldwide celebration of women's achievements on Sunday. (Ben Stansall/Pool via AP)
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is greeted by pupils at the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, in eastern London, during a surprise visit to celebrate International Women's Day, Friday, March 6, 2020. Meghan visited the school, addressing pupils in an assembly ahead of the worldwide celebration of women's achievements on Sunday. While school staff had told pupils a special guest would be at Friday's assembly, they deflected rumors that it would be Meghan and most of the students were visibly taken by surprise when she arrived. (Ben Stansall/Pool via AP)
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, left, smiles as head boy Aker Okoye, speaks in a school assembly, during her surprise visit to the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, in eastern London, to celebrate International Women's Day, Friday, March 6, 2020. Meghan visited the school, addressing pupils in an assembly ahead of the worldwide celebration of women's achievements on Sunday. (Ben Stansall/Pool via AP)
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, left, embraces head boy Aker Okoye, in a school assembly, during her surprise visit to the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, in eastern London, to celebrate International Women's Day, Friday, March 6, 2020. Meghan visited the school, addressing hundreds of pupils in an assembly ahead of the worldwide celebration of women's achievements on Sunday. Okoye, 16, was invited onstage with the Duchess after swiftly volunteering to give his view on why men need to be involved in the fight for women's equality. (Ben Stansall/Pool via AP)
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is greeted by pupils at the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, in eastern London, during a surprise visit to celebrate International Women's Day, Friday, March 6, 2020. Meghan visited the school, addressing hundreds of pupils in an assembly ahead of the worldwide celebration of women's achievements on Sunday. (Ben Stansall/Pool via AP)
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, left, smiles as head boy Aker Okoye, speaks in a school assembly, during her surprise visit to the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, in eastern London, to celebrate International Women's Day, Friday, March 6, 2020. Meghan visited the school, addressing pupils in an assembly ahead of the worldwide celebration of women's achievements on Sunday. (Ben Stansall/Pool via AP)
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, left, smiles as head boy Aker Okoye, speaks in a school assembly, during her surprise visit to the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, in eastern London, to celebrate International Women's Day, Friday, March 6, 2020. Meghan visited the school, addressing pupils in an assembly ahead of the worldwide celebration of women's achievements on Sunday. (Ben Stansall/Pool via AP)
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, right, speaks during a school assembly as part of a surprise visit to the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, in eastern London, to celebrate International Women's Day, Friday, March 6, 2020. Meghan visited the school, addressing pupils in an assembly ahead of the worldwide celebration of women's achievements on Sunday. (Ben Stansall/Pool via AP)
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, left, smiles as head boy Aker Okoye, speaks in a school assembly, during her surprise visit to the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, in eastern London, to celebrate International Women's Day, Friday, March 6, 2020. Meghan visited the school, addressing pupils in an assembly ahead of the worldwide celebration of women's achievements on Sunday. Okoye, 16, was later invited onstage with the duchess after swiftly volunteering to give his view on why men need to be involved in the fight for women's equality. (Ben Stansall/Pool via AP)
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is presented with an item of school clothing as she joins in a discussion of the "Senior Debate Squad" at the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, in eastern London, during a surprise visit to celebrate International Women's Day, Friday, March 6, 2020. Meghan visited the school, addressing pupils in an assembly ahead of the worldwide celebration of women's achievements on Sunday. (Ben Stansall/Pool via AP)
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, listens to a student reciting a poem to pupils at the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, in eastern London, during a surprise visit to celebrate International Women's Day, Friday, March 6, 2020. Meghan visited the school, addressing pupils in an assembly ahead of the worldwide celebration of women's achievements on Sunday. (Ben Stansall/Pool via AP)
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, fourth left, joins in a discussion of the "Senior Debate Squad" at the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, in eastern London, during a surprise visit to celebrate International Women's Day, Friday, March 6, 2020. Meghan visited the school, addressing pupils in an assembly ahead of the worldwide celebration of women's achievements on Sunday. (Ben Stansall/Pool via AP)
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is greeted by pupils at the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, in eastern London, during a surprise visit to celebrate International Women's Day, Friday, March 6, 2020. Meghan visited the school, addressing pupils in an assembly ahead of the worldwide celebration of women's achievements on Sunday. (Ben Stansall/Pool via AP)
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrives at the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, in eastern London, for a surprise visit to celebrate International Women's Day, Friday, March 6, 2020. Meghan visited the school, addressing pupils in an assembly ahead of the worldwide celebration of women's achievements on Sunday. (Ben Stansall/Pool via AP)
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is greeted by pupils at the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, in eastern London, during a surprise visit to celebrate International Women's Day, Friday, March 6, 2020. Meghan visited the school, addressing pupils in an assembly ahead of the worldwide celebration of women's achievements on Sunday. (Ben Stansall/Pool via AP)
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is greeted by pupils at the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, in eastern London, during a surprise visit to celebrate International Women's Day, Friday, March 6, 2020. Meghan visited the school, addressing pupils in an assembly ahead of the worldwide celebration of women's achievements on Sunday. (Ben Stansall/Pool via AP)
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is greeted by pupils at the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, in eastern London, during a surprise visit to celebrate International Women's Day, Friday, March 6, 2020. Meghan visited the school, addressing pupils in an assembly ahead of the worldwide celebration of women's achievements on Sunday. (Ben Stansall/Pool via AP)
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is greeted by pupils at the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, in eastern London, during a surprise visit to celebrate International Women's Day, Friday, March 6, 2020. Meghan visited the school, addressing pupils in an assembly ahead of the worldwide celebration of women's achievements on Sunday. (Ben Stansall/Pool via AP)
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, speaks during a school assembly as part of a surprise visit to the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, in eastern London, to celebrate International Women's Day, Friday, March 6, 2020. Meghan visited the school, addressing pupils in an assembly ahead of the worldwide celebration of women's achievements on Sunday. (Ben Stansall/Pool via AP)
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, center, poses with school children making the "equality" sign following a school assembly during a surprise visit to the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, in eastern London, to celebrate International Women's Day, Friday, March 6, 2020. Meghan visited the school, addressing pupils in an assembly ahead of the worldwide celebration of women's achievements on Sunday. (Ben Stansall/Pool via AP)
LONDON (AP) — Prince Harry’s wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has visited a school to offer an International Women’s Day message with an appeal to men to honor the women in their lives.
The surprise visit Friday took place at the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham in east London. The community was the site of famous strikes by female sewing machinists at a Ford plant, an equal pay fight depicted in the 2010 film “Made in Dagenham.’’
In one of her final duties as a senior British royal, Meghan urged the boys in the school assembly of 700 students to "continue to value and appreciate the women in your lives and also set the example for some men who are not seeing it that same way.’’
"You have your mothers, sisters, girlfriends, friends in your life, protect them,’’ she said. "Make sure that they are feeling valued and safe. And let's all just rally together to make International Women's Day something that is not just on Sunday, but frankly feels like every day of the year."
The Duchess of Sussex asked for a male volunteer to offer their thoughts on the importance of International Women's Day. Aker Okoye, 16, raced to the stage, greeting her with what appeared to be an air kiss to her cheek.
"She really is beautiful, innit?’’ he said as he took the podium. “I had to speak the truth there."
Meghan gave him a hug and later praised his "incredible confidence".
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