Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, delivered her first speech in Britain since stepping down from royal duties over two years ago.
However, her seven-minute address at the One Young World Summit in Manchester on Monday night was met with criticism for its self-centered nature.
Throughout the speech, Markle made at least 54 references to herself, leading many to dub it as nonsensical.
Accompanied by her husband Prince Harry, the couple faced a barrage of protests from a group of around a hundred demonstrators.
Anti-Harry and Meghan signs were brandished, and clashes erupted between supporters and opponents of the couple outside Bridgewater Hall, where the summit took place.
Undeterred, the Sussexes smiled as they passed through the crowd, disregarding a sign labeling them as “fake royals.”
Markle commenced her speech by expressing her delight at being back in the UK.
However, not everyone shared her enthusiasm.
Janet, a protester from Manchester, accused the duchess of being a liar, a hypocrite, and launching an attack on the royal family.
Holding up a hand-drawn poster that read “F.O.
Harry and Meghan” and “fake royals,” Janet criticized Markle for trying to gain celebrity status within the royal family, branding her as the most toxic and divisive woman she had ever encountered.
Another protester named Anna questioned Markle’s feminist credentials, stating that she is not a true advocate for women’s rights but rather a hypocrite.
Anna expressed disappointment, believing that Markle had ulterior motives from the beginning and should have shown more respect as a member of the royal family.
Critics also highlighted the ambiguous manner in which Markle and Prince Harry left the country when they stepped down as working royals in 2020.
Royal commentator Angela Levin took to Twitter to express her disdain, calling Markle’s opening line about being back in the UK “phony.”
Twitter user Needy pointed out the contradictions in Markle’s statements, questioning whether she was happy to leave “racist Britain” or happy to be back.
The speech drew further condemnation from royal commentator Kinsey Schofield, who criticized the content as lacking substance and resembling a clichéd decorative plaque found in a store.
Others echoed this sentiment, with user Cinentonic sarcastically asking if Markle would be donating her air miles, and Gareth expressing his nausea after only 30 seconds of listening.
Notably, Piers Morgan, a vocal critic of Markle, lambasted her once again.
He highlighted the irony of a woman who married into immense wealth, gave up her job, and now lives off the proceeds of her husband’s royal status lecturing others about poverty and equality.
Morgan found it particularly galling that Markle chose to make this speech in a country she supposedly despises, especially during a time of severe financial crisis.
Meghan Markle’s return to the UK for her first public appearance since Megxit garnered mixed reactions.
While some praised her efforts, others found fault with her self-referential speech and perceived hypocrisy.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how her words will resonate with the public and whether they will have any lasting impact.