MAKING HER MARKLE
Meghan Markle hailed as an ‘inspiration to black women’ as students cheer during visit to South Africa university
MEGHAN Markle has been hailed as an inspiration to black women by vice chancellor of one of South Africa's top universities today.
The Duchess of Sussex was greeted with screams of approval by students at the University of Johannesburg on the final leg of the Royal tour.
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She had previously described herself as a “woman of colour” on the opening day of the tour in a South African township.
Meghan, 38, addressed more than 20 academics in her role as patron of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).
The patronage was one of the first she took up after her marriage, assuming the role from the Queen.
Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, the University of Johannesburg’s vice chancellor, said after the event and amid shouts of approval from watching students: “Meghan will absolutely inspire women, partly because she is black.”
At the discussion, Prof Marwala had emphasised the importance of ensuring women in Africa were able to access higher education. He told the Duchess: “If you want to feed a village, you have to empower women.”
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The Duchess stressed to the room full of academics and scholarship students the key role played by education - especially university education - and said it meant a lot to her “on a personal level”.
Later to audience laughter, she reached for notes in announcing new scholarships and grants admitting: “I will use note cards today because my goodness this last bit I can’t screw up.”
She said: “As Patron of the ACU it has been an incredible year now and we are really working to advocate for what is truly and deeply meaningful to me on a personal level. Education and higher education specifically is such a key element for growth, economic growth but also personal growth and development.”
'INSPIRATION'
Meghan added: “I think so much of what we should be talking about and energies we should be focusing on at ACU is supporting people to know that, if you don’t have the support that is necessary so you feel you can take the next step, then you are stunting your growth.
“So much of that of course is having the support and scholarships and funding for students... That was the reason I was able to attend university at the same level you need to have that support on the inside for educators to be able to give as much as they can back to those in the educational system.”
Turning to Prof Marwala, she said: “ It’s true what you said: when a woman is empowered it changes absolutely everything in the community.”
Meghan Markle arrives at University of Johannesburg to meet students on her African tour with Archie and Prince Harry
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The Duchess also stressed the importance of the Commonwealth and the network of 500 universities that make up the ACU.
Meghan was met at the university campus by three current Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholars from Kenya, Ghana and Canada who receive financial support through ACU.
Samukelisiwa Nomusa Shongwe, 19, one of the students who gave Meghan a rousing reception, said: "I think she is a great person. She has done so many things. She has contributed to society, especially to African society.
"She is very interested in playing a positive role by speaking about gender equality and gender abuse."
Earlier she beamed as she strode out across the campus at the University of Johannesburg on the latest leg of her African tour.
The Duchess of Sussex stepped out in South Africa to attend a round table discussion of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).
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She smiled as she strode across campus in a £95 Banana Republic tuxedo dress and matching nude heels.
Her long dark locks flurried in the Jo'burg breeze as she headed out for the meeting of the organisation, of which she is a patron.
The ACU is the world's first and oldest international university network having been established in 1913 and works to promote and support higher education across the Commonwealth.
She told the event: “As patron of the ACU it has been an incredible year now and we are really working to advocate for what is truly and deeply important to me: education and higher education, specifically is such a key element for growth, for economic growth and personal growth.
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“I think so much of what we should be talking about at ACU is supporting people to know that... you can take the next step.
"So much is about having the support and scholarships and funding for students... That was the reason I was able to attend university.
“At the same level you need to have that support on the inside to be able to give as much back to those in the education system”
Meghan attended the event solo as her husband flies back from Malawi later today.
Harry also visited Botswana and Angola on his jaunt around Africa, while his wife and son Archie stayed in South Africa.
Tomorrow will be the royal couple's final day in the Rainbow Nation where the Duke and Duchess will visit a township near Johannesburg.
Yesterday Meghan was almost lost for words when she was presented with a pair of denim dungarees made specially for baby Archie.
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Their first overseas tour as a family has featured engagements including visits to poor townships and a meeting with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu.
They'll reunite towards the end of the ten-day trip in Johannesburg on Wednesday, before returning to the UK.
Earlier in the tour baby Archie had won over everyone's hearts when the toddler met Archbishop Desmond Tutu and gave him a high five.
Smiling Meghan Markle appears on Skype in classroom as Prince Harry visits Malawi school
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