Meghan Markle and Prince Harry arrive at the One Young World summit in Manchester

Meghan Markle looked effortlessly elegant as she and Prince Harry attended the One Young World summit in Manchester this evening, where the Duchess gave a keynote speech.

The Duchess of Sussex , 41, opted for a scarlet £471 Another Tomorrow blouse and matching £541 wide-leg trousers from the luxury brand when arriving at Bridgewater Hall alongside the Duke, 37, who both travelled to the Northern city via train from London Euston. 

It is their first public appearance in the UK since returning for the Queen‘s Platinum Jubilee in June as Harry’s legal battle with the Home Office rumbles on after they were denied 24/7 taxpayer-funded armed police bodyguards. 

The event brought together young leaders from more than 190 countries and where Meghan, a counsellor for One Young World, gave an address on gender equality – her first in-person speech in the UK since quitting as a senior working royal more than two years ago.

Meghan, who is thought to have completed her vivid red outfit with a pair of heels from her favoured Italian brand Aquazzura, smiled and held hands with the duke as they made their way through the auditorium, ahead of taking to the stage in front of 2,000 young leaders. 

The Duchess of Sussex , 41, opted for a scarlet £471 Another Tomorrow blouse and matching £541 wide-leg trousers from the luxury brand when arriving at Bridgewater Hall alongside the Duke, 37, who both travelled to the Northern city via train from London Euston 

Looking stylish! Meghan (pictured left) is thought to have completed her vivid red outfit with a pair of heels from her favoured Italian brand Aquazzura 

The event brings together young leaders from more than 190 countries and where Meghan (pictured left), a counsellor for One Young World, gave an address on gender equality – her first in-person speech in the UK since quitting as a senior working royal more than two years ago

Harry and Meghan sat centre stage on a bench together as they joined One Young World counsellors to watch the flag bearers enthusiastically parading the flags of more than 200 countries during the opening ceremony

Meghan (pictured) smiled and held hands with the duke as they made their way through the auditorium, ahead of taking to the stage in front of 2,000 young leaders

Adding a touch of extra glitz to her vibrant ensemble, Meghan opted for gold hooped earrings and a dazzling array of rings, while keeping her hair sleeked back into a wavy ponytail. 

Harry and Meghan sat centre stage on a bench together as they joined One Young World counsellors to watch the flag bearers enthusiastically parading the flags of more than 200 countries during the opening ceremony.

Mother-of-two Meghan swayed in time to the music, which included Dancing In The Streets and Respect, as she clapped her hands.

She then addressed the audience, and told young future world leaders: ‘You are the future… you are the present… You are the ones driving the positive and necessary change across the globe now, in this very moment. And for that I am so grateful to be in your company today.’  

Meghan also spoke about the first time she was asked to be a counsellor for One Young World in 2014 and having a ‘pinch me moment’.

She recalled: ‘And there I was, the girl from Suits. I was surrounded by world leaders, humanitarians, prime ministers and activists that I had such a deep and long-standing respect and admiration for. And I was allowed in, to pull up a seat at the table.

‘I was so overwhelmed by this experience, I think, I think I even saved my little paper place-marker with my name on it. Just proof: proof that I was there, proof that I belonged, because the truth was, I wasn’t sure that I belonged.’

The Duchess added: ‘Because the truth was, I wasn’t sure that I belonged. I was so nervous, I doubted myself and I wondered, wondered if I was good enough to be there?’ But she added One Young World, ‘saw in me, just as I see in you, the present and the future.’

Mother-of-two Meghan (pictured left) swayed in time to the music, which included Dancing In The Streets and Respect, as she clapped her hands

Harry and Meghan greet one of the cofounders of the One Young World summit Kate Robertson 

Prince Harry and Meghan and cofounder of One Young World, David Robert Jones, on stage during the Opening Ceremony of the One Young World Summit 2022

Harry and Meghan smile as they take centre stage at the start of the One Young World summit opening ceremony 

Meghan said: ‘And I want to make that point because often times I speak to young girls about the years ahead. About what you will do, about what you will have to adopt to fix from previous generations and also what legacy you will leave. 

‘Too often in that, we neglect the point – you are doing it now. You, here, in this present moment, this is where it is all beginning.’

Harry and Meghan were earlier pictured going into a side entrance of London Euston after being driven the 27 miles from their UK base at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor to the railway station in a hybrid electric Range Rover – a journey taking about an hour.

The Sussexes were accompanied by two bodyguards and followed by another Range Rover as they were driven out of the grounds of Windsor Castle, ahead of Meghan making her first speech to a British crowd since Megxit.

Meghan and Harry applaud during the flag-waving ceremony at the One Young World Summit in Manchester

Harry hugs one of the founders of the One Young World Summit alongside wife Meghan as they attend this evening’s event

The royal couple were centre stage for the flag-waving ceremony, with Bob Geldof and Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham sat to their right

They had spent the night less than half a mile from Prince William, Kate and their three children – but the families are not expected to meet, in a decision that underlines the deep rift between the brothers.

Meanwhile, the couple’s decision to use at least two private security firms and dog teams to form a ring of steel around Bridgewater Hall comes just days after Meghan told The Cut magazine in the US that it takes ‘a lot of effort’ to forgive and hinted that she can ‘say anything’.

It is understood the couple and event organisers have arranged private security after Harry was told he was no longer entitled to taxpayer-funded official armed police bodyguards. A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police confirmed its officers were not involved, adding that security for the event had been ‘privately sourced’. 

The area outside the 2,300-seat venue was cleared of the public an hour and a half before the couple arrived after 6pm, it was reported. 

Harry and Meghan were all smiles as they walked hand-in-hand past the 2,000-strong crowd at Bridgewater Hall, filled with young people from around the world (pictured) 

Harry and Meghan greet one of the founders of the One Young World Summit as they take to the stage this evening

Adding a touch of extra glitz to her vibrant ensemble, Meghan opted for gold hooped earrings and a dazzling array of rings, while keeping her hair sleeked back into a wavy ponytail 

Harry and Meghan’s trip comes amid Harry’s ongoing legal battle with the Government over his security when in the UK. He launched legal action after he was told he would no longer be given the ‘same degree’ of personal protection after stepping back from the Royal Family in 2020.

He said he did not feel safe under current security arrangements bringing his family here and has offered to pay for British police to act as bodyguards himself. Last month, he won a bid to bring a High Court claim against the Home Office.

Next stop for the couple is Germany for the Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023 One Year To Go event which is taking place on Tuesday, before they return to the UK for the WellChild Awards in London where Harry will speak on Thursday.

The Sussexes are believed to have arrived at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor on Saturday ahead of their European tour. The property is located just 380 feet away from the Cambridges’ new four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage, where William and Kate spent the weekend with their children.

Meanwhile, the Queen is said to be keeping calm and carrying on, but a source told The Sunday Times she did not want to be ‘on tenterhooks’ all the time waiting for the ‘next nuclear bomb’ from the Sussexes.

Another Palace source told the newspaper: ‘Ultimately, they are bashing the institution that has put them in the position they’re in – the longevity of that strategy is not sustainable.’ 

Harry and Meghan have taken part in several interviews since their departure from royal life, including their controversial sit-down with Oprah during which they accused the Royal Family of racism and said the institution failed to help a suicidal Meghan.

Tensions were raised further last week after an interview which saw Meghan suggest the Sussexes had been forced to move across the Atlantic because ‘by existing, we were upsetting the dynamic of the hierarchy’.

Speaking to US magazine The Cut, she also claimed her husband had ‘lost’ his father, with sources close to the couple saying this wasn’t a reference to Prince Charles, but her estrangement with her own father.

Royal insiders have branded the interview, which also saw Meghan compare herself to Nelson Mandela, as ‘delusional’ and have expressed concerns about the impact of their comments on the Queen.

One said that the Queen, who is now 96 and has pulled out of a string of public events in recent months amid ongoing fears for her health, does not ‘want to be on tenterhooks’ and constantly waiting for the ‘next nuclear bomb’.

Analysts allege Harry’s upcoming memoir, which is expected to be out in time for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, is also expected to slam the monarchy.

The contents of the tell-all memoir still remain a mystery, including to the Royal family who will get to read the book at the same time as the public. 

Sources close to the Prince of Wales reportedly told The Telegraph last month that he had hoped his team would have been sent a copy of the book ahead of its publication. However, they claim neither he nor the Duke of Cambridge – or their attorneys – have received specifics about the book.