Meghan Markle claims her 3-year-old daughter, Princess Lilibet, has 'found her voice'. Photo / Getty Images
Meghan Markle claims her 3-year-old daughter, Princess Lilibet, has 'found her voice'. Photo / Getty Images
OPINION
We will never achieve true social justice, says Meghan Markle, unless we embolden girls and young women to “use their voice and be heard”. To this end, she told a conference on “Afro-Descendant Women and Power” at the weekend, she has always taken great care to “encourage”her daughter Lilibet through “the role-modelling I try to do as a mother”. And now, thanks to these efforts, she is “so proud” to report that Lilibet has “found her voice”.
Naturally, I congratulate Meghan on this remarkable achievement in parenting. I just wish she’d told us more. Mainly because Lilibet is only 3. And, as a result, I’m simply dying to know how exactly such a very young girl is using this newfound “voice” of hers.
If only Meghan had provided a few examples, to give us some idea of the key social issues that her infant daughter has been speaking out on. But sadly she refrained, no doubt due to a characteristic reluctance to show off. So I’m afraid that all we can do is speculate.
During a talk on gender equality, the Duchess of Sussex declared that her 3-year-old daughter has ‘found her voice’. Pardon? Photo / Getty Images
In my own experience as a parent, 3-year-olds can certainly be vocal in their protests against perceived injustice. As a rule, though, these protests tend to be somewhat narrow in outlook. They will protest against such outrages as, for instance, being told to eat up their vegetables, or have a bath, or stop watching Hey Duggee for five minutes.
Few 3-year-olds, however, have been known to organise a campaign against, say, the alarming proliferation of modern slavery in the Middle East, or human rights violations by the Chinese government. So if, as Meghan seems to suggest, Lilibet is using her “voice” to make herself heard on major global wrongs, this makes her a truly exceptional pre-schooler.
Still, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised. With a mother like Meghan, it’s only natural that Lilibet should wish to follow in her footsteps, and become, even at such a tender age, a passionate advocate for equality and empowerment.
Princess Lilibet Diana, Harry and Meghan's daughter. Photo / Misan Harriman
I like to imagine this precocious young activist at nursery, leading the other toddlers on a march for peace in Gaza. Or demanding action on climate change by glueing her bottom to the garden swing. Or delivering a TED Talk to her Barbie dolls about gender equity.
