Prince Harry and Meghan: We must acknowledge 'uncomfortable' past of the Commonwealth

We must all acknowledge the "uncomfortable " past of the Commonwealth, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have said, as they tell young campaigners "it's not going to be easy" but the world must "right those wrongs".

The Duke, whose grandmother is head of the Commonwealth, said there is "no way that we can move forward unless we acknowledge the past".

The Duchess added: “We’re going to have to be a little uncomfortable right now, because it’s only in pushing through that discomfort that we get to the other side of this."

The couple, who are president and vice-president of the QCT, spoke to young people via video link from their new home in Los Angeles, following their recent vocal campaign work in the Black Lives Matter movement.

"In response to the growing Black Lives Matter movement, The Queens Commonwealth Trust has been running a weekly discussion with young people looking at various forms of injustice on the experiences of young people today," their spokesman said.

"As President and Vice President, The Duke and Duchess felt it was important to be part of it."

As part of the discussion, on the QCT's work on considering historic injustice around the slave trade, the Duke said: “When you look across the Commonwealth, there is no way that we can move forward unless we acknowledge the past.

"So many people have done such an incredible job of acknowledging the past and trying to right those wrongs, but I think we all acknowledge there is so much more still to do.

"It’s not going to be easy and in some cases it’s not going to be comfortable but it needs to be done, because guess what, everybody benefits.”

Having recently spoken of how institutional racism is "endemic" in society, he added: “The optimism and the hope that we get is from listening and speaking to people like you, because there is no turning back now, everything is coming to a head.

"Solutions exist and change is happening far quicker than it ever has done before.”

The Duchess said: “We’re going to have to be a little uncomfortable right now, because it’s only in pushing through that discomfort that we get to the other side of this and find the place where a high tide raises all ships.

"Equality does not put anyone on the back foot, it puts us all on the same footing - which is a fundamental human right.”

She added: “Keep up the incredible work and know that we are right there with you, standing in solidarity.

"We’re going to get there…and we have a lot of renewed faith and energy in that having had this conversation.”

Speaking of "unconscious bias", Meghan said: “It’s not just in the big moments, it’s in the quiet moments where racism and unconscious bias lies and thrives. It makes it confusing for a lot of people to understand the role that they play in that, both passively and actively”.

Prince Harry added: “We can’t deny or ignore the fact that all of us have been educated to see the world differently.

"However, once you start to realise that there is that bias there, then you need to acknowledge it, you need to do the work to become more aware… so that you can help stand up for something that is so wrong and should not be acceptable in our society today.”

Nicola Brentnall, CEO of The Queen's Commonwealth Trust, has said: "We have started a conversation in The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust about how the Commonwealth’s past – of colonialism, of the subjugation of peoples and the on-going legacy of such historic injustice – can and should shape the identity of the organisation, how it develops its offer and how it works in the future."

The Commonwealth has its foundations in the British Empire, but is now described as the "family of nations".

It emphasises the voluntary membership of 54 "independent and equal countries", working together to "promote prosperity, democracy and peace, amplify the voice of small states, and protect the environment".

The Queen is Head of Commonwealth, while the Prince of Wales is confirmed to succeed her one day.

During a visit to Ghana in 2018, the Prince acknowledged the role of Britain in the “most painful chapter” of the country's historic relations with Europe to speak of the “appalling atrocity” of the slave trade in a landmark speech.

He made a symbolic visit to Christiansborg Castle in Osu, walking the same steps that an estimated 1.5million slaves were forced down in the 17th and 18th centuries to be passed through the ‘Door of No Return’ to be trafficked to the New World.

Speaking of the “unimaginable suffering” which left an “indelible stain on the history of our world”, he later said that Britain must take responsibility for ensuring the horrors are never forgotten.