A cheeky schoolboy received a hug from the Duchess of Sussex during a visit to an east London school, before telling his classmates: "She really is beautiful, innit?"
Meghan made a secret trip to Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham on Friday and delivered a message for International Women’s Day - asking men to "value the women in your lives".
After addressing pupils at an assembly, she invited head boy Aker Okoye on stage to give his view on why men need to be involved in the fight for women's equality.
The 16-year-old greeted Meghan and seemed to whisper to her, which prompted the whole room to erupt into cheers and screams.
He then took the microphone and said: “She really is beautiful, innit?"
Meghan burst into laughter, before she wagged her finger at him, and then with a smile praised Aker’s “incredible confidence”. He also got a hug from the duchess.
After rapturous applause from the pupils, he added: “I had to speak the truth there."
He added: “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."
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".
The Duchess of Sussex visits Robert Clack School in Dagenham
“You have your mothers, sisters, girlfriends, friends in your life, protect them," she added.
“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.”
