The One Young World Summit brings together thousands of young leaders from over 190 countries to delve into global issues, including conflict prevention, gender equality, health, oceans, and ethical leadership. In her previous speech, Meghan recounted her first summit experience, expressing feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt, saying, "I wasn't sure that I belonged.
I was so nervous, I doubted myself, and I wondered if I was good enough to even be there." She went on to suggest that One Young World must have seen potential in her, just as she sees potential in the audience and the world. She concluded by encouraging the audience to seize the moment and contribute to creating a better tomorrow.
Back then, Meghan faced criticism for her speech. Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, expressed her bewilderment, stating, "I can't visualize or comprehend how the 2,000 young people understood a word of what she was talking about. It made no sense; it was all about her and related everything back to herself." Royal author Phil Dampier also commented on the lack of substance in her speech and suggested she was using her acting skills.
However, it appears that this year, the event organizers have decided not to invite Meghan to the conference. Some believe it's because everything she does receives negative press, and One Young World wants to distance itself from her self-centered image.
On a different note, Meghan Markle and One Young World are currently facing an investigation. It came to light that the mother-daughter duo received nearly £2 million in less than five years from the charity. The Charity Commission initiated the probe shortly after portraits of Meghan and Prince Harry taken at the charity's annual summit were published. One Young World, which describes itself as a global forum for young leaders, gained significant visibility due to Meghan's involvement as one of its councilors since 2014.
The investigation centers around concerns regarding high executive pay and benefits at the charity. One Young World's CEO, Kate Robertson, received a £440,000 pay package for the 18 months leading up to June 2021, despite the pandemic causing disruptions in their summits. Her daughter, Ella McKay, who serves as one of the charity's managing directors, received a £194,000 pay and benefits package for the same period.
Attending the One Young World Summit doesn't come cheap, with delegates charged £3,150 for a pass that includes meals. If accommodation is added, the cost rises to £4,210. These fees, along with charges for exhibition space, constitute the charity's primary sources of funding. However, revenue plummeted after a summit scheduled for Munich was delayed until July 2021 due to the pandemic.
Despite not hosting a summit between 2020 and 2021, the charity's top five executives, including Mrs. Robertson and Mrs. McKay, were awarded nearly £1.4 million in pay and benefits.
