Meghan Markle shared a heartfelt message in response to George Floyd’s death

Meghan Markle has shared a heartfelt message addressing the death of George Floyd. In the short clip, in which she speaks to the graduating class at her old Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, she says that Floyd’s “life mattered”.

“And Breonna Taylor’s life mattered and Philando Castile’s life mattered and Tamir Rice’s life mattered,” the Duchess, wearing a simple white cardigan, pale pink top, and gold jewellery, continues in the clip. “I wasn’t sure what I could say to you,” she admits from her home in LA. “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.”

Markle describes the recent events as “absolutely devastating”, recalling how it has led her to think about her time in high school: “I remember my teacher, Ms Pollia, said to me as I was leaving for a day of volunteering [as a sophomore]: ‘Always remember to put others’ needs above your own fears’. That has stuck with me throughout my entire life and I have thought about it more in the last week than ever before. So, the 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.”

Markle also shares her experience starting secondary school after the brutal beating of Rodney King. “I was 11 or 12 years old and it was the LA riots, which was also triggered by a senseless act of racism,” she says. “I remember the curfew and I remember rushing back home… and seeing ash fall from the sky, smelling the smoke and seeing the smoke billow out of buildings. I remember seeing men in the back of a van just holding guns and rifles. I remember pulling up at the house and seeing the tree that had always been there, completely charred. Those memories don’t go away.”

The Duchess ended the call on a positive note. “The other thing that I do remember about that time was how people came together, and we are seeing that right now,” Meghan continues. “We are seeing that from the sheriff in Michigan or the police chief in Virginia. We are seeing people stand in solidarity, we are seeing communities come together and uplift. And you are going to be part of this movement.”

Meghan went on to discuss how young people are going to rebuild and lead with love going forward—including using their right to vote. “You are going to have empathy for those who don’t see the world through the same lens that you do… I know that you know that black lives matter. So I am already excited for what you’re going to do in the world.”

This article originally appeared in Vogue.co.uk