Meghan: Cheeky pupil pays Duchess of Sussex a compliment on surprise visit to Essex school
The Duchess of Sussex urges the boys at the school to "value and appreciate the women in your lives".
Sunday 8 March 2020 15:24, UK
A cheeky schoolboy stole a kiss with Meghan and told cheering fellow pupils "she really is beautiful, innit?" as the royal made a secret visit to his school.
The Duchess of Sussex dropped in at Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, east London, to deliver an International Women's Day message to men to "value the women in your lives".
Addressing the pupils during an assembly, she invited head boy Aker Okoye, 16, on stage to give his view on why men need to be involved in the fight for women's equality.
He greeted Meghan with a peck on the cheek to screams from the youngsters and then said into the microphone: "She really is beautiful, innit?"
Meghan reacted. bursting into laughter and tapping him on the back, before wagging her finger at him as the crowd went wild.
After the rapturous applause and cheers from the gathered students calmed, he said: "I had to speak the truth there."
He said: "I just had to stand up, I had to look around because I wasn't sure if there was anybody else. I thought to myself, this day means so much to me, it'd be an insult for me not to speak."
In a speech addressing the school's boys in particular, Meghan urged them 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.
"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."
Staff at the school had told pupils a special guest would be at Friday's assembly.
But they deflected rumours that it would be Meghan and most of the students were visibly taken by surprise when she arrived.
Fiona Addai and Harvi Shehi, both 11, were chosen to greet the duchess.
Fiona said: "First I got told that it was a lady, but when she pulled up, when she was coming out I thought it would be Kate by the hair, then she came out, she's my biggest idol so I was really happy to see her.
"I was so happy, I thought I was going to faint because she's my biggest idol and I really love her."
Harvi added: "It was a great opportunity to be selected to represent the school to meet such a famous person."
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on , , ,
Meghan also marked the 50th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act on her visit to the school.
Her choice of location was noteworthy as strikes in the 1960s by female sewing machinists at the nearby Ford Motor Plant triggered the passing of the legislation. That struggle was depicted in the 2010 film, Made in Dagenham.
She added: "It is the best example of no matter how small you might feel, how low you may feel on the ladder or the totem pole, no matter what colour you are, no matter what gender you are, you have a voice and you certainly have the right to speak up for what is right."
On Saturday evening the Duke and Duchess of Sussex received a standing ovation and long applause at the Royal Albert Hall as they embarked on their final engagements as senior royals.
The couple received the warm welcome as they took their seats in the royal box to watch the Mountbatten Festival of Music.