Meghan joined a panel on stage in Cali, which included Colombia’s Vice President Francia Márquez, at a forum celebrating Afro-Colombian women.
Removing her earpiece, the Duchess began her remarks in Spanish, saying, “The culture, the history—everything was a dream—this trip was a dream. I can feel this community, and this feeling is the best thing right now.”
After finishing her comments in Spanish, Meghan laughed nervously and playfully wiped sweat from her forehead in relief as the audience applauded.
Switching to English, she spoke about the importance of empowering women and young girls to have a voice.
“I find inspiration in the strong women around me, my mother being one of them. My approach is less about fighting and more about how we show up in a space, bringing love, kindness, and generosity,” she said. “It’s crucial that young girls feel their voices are heard, and that young boys learn to listen to girls as well. The role of men in this is vital—my husband is an example of this.”
Speaking about their daughter, Princess Lilibet, Meghan shared, “I know how it feels when you don’t use your voice when you need to be heard or have something to say. I encourage our daughter to do so—who, at three, has absolutely found her voice, and we are so proud of that.”
Meghan, who double majored in Theater and International Relations at Northwestern University, honed her Spanish language skills during an internship at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and while studying abroad in Madrid, Spain.
Earlier in the Colombia trip, Meghan spoke Spanish to kindergarten children as they worked on a puzzle.
In 2020, during a visit to the Homeboy Industries charity in Los Angeles, Meghan also impressed staff members with her language abilities.
“She spoke Spanish perfectly with one young woman,” Father Greg Boyle, the group’s founder, told People at the time. “She just switched to Spanish effortlessly, and it was very good.”
