‘It’s absolutely devastating’ — Meghan Markle breaks silence on George Floyd’s death

Meghan Markle, duchess of Sussex, has broken her silence on the death of George Floyd, a black American who died after an officer knelt on his neck.

The 38-year-old wife of Prince Harry said Floyd’s life “mattered” as she delivered a virtual address to graduating students from her former high school in Los Angeles.

Describing recent events that prompted protests about racism in the US as “absolutely devastating,” Meghan added that she was sorry children had to grow up in a world where the vice still exists.

“I know you know black lives matter. First thing I want to say to you is that I’m sorry, I’m so sorry that you have to grow up in a world where this is still present,” said the actress, who recently relocated to Los Angeles with Harry, following a brief stint in Canada.

“For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been planning on saying a few words to you for your graduation. As we’ve all seen over the last week what is happening in our country is absolutely devastating.

“I wasn’t sure what I could say to you. I wanted to say the right thing and I was really nervous that it would get picked apart. And I realised the only wrong thing to say is to say nothing

“Because George Floyd’s life mattered, and Breonna Taylor’s life mattered, and Philando Castile’s life mattered and Tamir Rice’s life mattered.

“And so did so many other people whose names we know, and whose names we do not know.”

The Full video of Queen Meghan Markle speaking in support of #BlackLivesMatter
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— TV Fanatic👑⚜️ (@Khaleesi_Hodan) June 4, 2020

While the British royal family hasn’t been known to bare their personal thoughts on political matters, Meghan went ahead to reflect on her own memories of the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

“I was 11 or 12 years old when I was just about to start Immaculate Heart Middle School in the fall, and it was the LA Riots, which was also triggered by the senseless act of racism,” she added.

“I remember the curfew, rushing back home, and seeing ash fall from the sky, seeing the smoke billow out of buildings, and seeing people run out carrying bags and looting.

“Those memories don’t go away. I can’t imagine that at 17 or 18 years old, which is how old you are now, that you would have to have a different version of that same type of experience.

“That’s something you should have an understanding of as a history lesson not as your reality. So I’m sorry that, in a way, we have not gotten the world to the place you deserve it to be.”