Prince Harry risked upsetting the royal family by insisting the Commonwealth ‘must acknowledge the past’, even if it’s ‘uncomfortable’.
The Duke of Sussex, 35, made the comment as he joined wife Meghan Markle, 38, for a video call with young leaders from the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust last week.
As part of the discussion on justice and equal rights, Harry said the Commonwealth needed to commit to follow the lead of others who have ‘acknowledged the past’ and are ‘trying to right their wrongs’. He also admitted to having his own ‘unconscious bias’ as a result of his upbringing.
Speaking from his Los Angeles home, Harry said: ‘When you look across the Commonwealth, there is no way that we can move forward unless we acknowledge the past.
‘So many people have done such an incredible job of acknowledging the past and trying to right those wrongs, but I think we all acknowledge there is so much more still to do.’
The statement appears to be a swipe at the past actions of his own ancestors, who ruled over the British Empire. Almost all of the Commonwealth’s 54 territories were once part of the Empire.
The Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 38 (pictured) joined a video call hosted by The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust (QCT) to look at ‘fairness, justice and equal rights’ on Wednesday
Duke and Duchess of Sussex joining a session (Wednesday July 1, 2020) hosted by the trust to look at ‘fairness, justice and equal rights’. Pictured, Chrisann Jarrett (UK) (top left), Mike Omoniyi (UK), (top right), Alicia Wallace (Bahamas) (bottom left) and Abdullahi Alim (Australia) (bottom right
It is the latest in a series of public steps taken by Harry and Meghan as they shift the focus of their royal work to racial equality and social justice.
Harry, 35, last week publicly apologised for ‘endemic institutionalised racism’, saying he is ‘sorry’ the world isn’t in the place where young people ‘deserve it to be’. It came after Meghan, 38, spoke on the issue in an address to a graduating high school class.
In the most recent call Harry turned his attention to the Commonwealth, which emerged out of the decolonisation of the British Empire in the first half of the 20th century.
The Queen remains head of the Commonwealth and in 2018 it was announced that Harry’s father Prince Charles will be her successor.
However Harry insisted it will only be possible for the organisation to continue if more is done to ‘acknowledge the past.
Harry said to the group, which included young leaders from Australia, the Bahamas and the UK: ‘When you look across the Commonwealth, there is no way that we can move forward unless we acknowledge the past.
‘So many people have done such an incredible job of acknowledging the past and trying to right those wrongs, but I think we all acknowledge there is so much more still to do.
‘It’s not going to be easy and in some cases it’s not going to be comfortable, but it needs to be done, because, guess what, everybody benefits.’
As President and Vice President of QCT, The Duke and Duchess (pictured, together) believe that these conversations are an incredibly valuable part of their work and how the Commonwealth can best support young people
In response to the growing Black Lives Matter movement, QCT has been running a weekly discussion with young people looking at various forms of injustice on the experiences of young people today. Pictured, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The Prince also admitted he has his own unconscious bias as a result of his upbringing.
He said: ‘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 realise 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.’
Former Suits star Meghan added to her husband’s words and spoke of how equality is a fundamental human right. She said the steps that need to be taken are ‘uncomfortable’ but that they are necessary.
She said: ‘We’re going to have to be a little uncomfortable right now, because it’s only in pushing through that discomfort that we get to the other side of this and find the place where a high tide raises all ships.
‘Equality does not put anyone on the back foot, it puts us all on the same footing – which is a fundamental human right.’
During the video call, the Duke of Sussex (pictured with Meghan) told the trust: ‘There is no turning back now, everything is coming to a head’
During the exchange, the Duchess of Sussex (pictured, with Prince Harry) said people needed to push through an ‘uncomfortable’ phase towards equality
After the Sussexes stepped down as a senior working royals, Harry had to leave his role as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador.
But he and Meghan retained their posts as president and vice-president of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust.
Harry told those taking part: ‘This change is needed and it’s coming.’
He added: ‘The optimism and the hope that we get is from listening and speaking to people like you, because there is no turning back now, everything is coming to a head.’