Meghan leaves pupils stunned during surprise visit to Essex school

One school pupil thought she was going to faint as the Duchess of Sussex paid a surprise visit to a school in east London to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Staff at the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham 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.”

Head boy Aker Okoye, 16, was later invited on stage with the duchess after swiftly volunteering to give his view on why men need to be involved in the fight for women’s equality.

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.”

Approaching Meghan on the stage, Aker appeared to kiss the duchess on the cheek to rapturous applause and cheers from the gathered students.

“She really is beautiful. I had to speak the truth there,” he told the crowd, causing Meghan to laugh.

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.”

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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.

(c) Sky News 2020: Meghan leaves pupils stunned during surprise visit to Essex school