Meghan Markle is currently completing a royal tour of South Africa with her husband Prince Harry and their son Archie. Along the way, Meghan has met female entrepreneurs working in technology, visited an organisation that trains and employs women living with HIV as frontline health workers, and met with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe.

The Duchess has also given a powerful talk about the global “consciousness crisis” when it comes to mental health. Speaking at an event for Waves 4 Change – a mental health support charity for young people – Meghan said: “It’s just getting people to talk about it and talk to each other, right?”

She added: “Globally, I think there’s a bit of a consciousness crisis, so the fact we’re able to be here together to see on the ground so much good work that’s being done, just because people are willing to talk to each other about it and someone’s willing to listen, is huge.”

Now, the Duchess has shared a photo from a private engagement that she made on the tour – and it was for an extremely important reason. 

The photo, which she shared on the Sussexes’ official Instagram account, showed the secret visit she made to the site where University of Cape Town student Uyinene Mrwetyana was brutally murdered over a week ago. Ahead of their arrival for the tour, Meghan and Harry were both shocked to hear of the 19-year-old’s torture, rape, and murder during a violent act which has outraged South Africa.

Meghan uploaded a photo of her tying a yellow ribbon to a gate outside the post-office where the tragic event took place. 

The full caption read:

“‘Simi kunye kulesisimo’ – ‘We stand together in this moment’

“The Duchess of Sussex has tied a ribbon at the site where 19-year-old Cape Town student Uyinene Mrwetyana was murdered last month, to pay her respects and to show solidarity with those who have taken a stand against gender based violence and femicide. Over the last month in Capetown, protests erupted through the streets in outrage over GBV in South Africa.

“The Duke and Duchess had been following what had happened from afar and were both eager to learn more when they arrived in South Africa. The Duchess spoke to the mother of Uyinene this week to relay their condolences.”

It continued: “Visiting the site of this tragic death and being able to recognise Uyinene, and all women and girls effected by GBV (specifically in South Africa, but also throughout the world) was personally important to The Duchess.

“Uyinene’s death has mobilised people across South Africa in the fight against gender based violence, and is seen as a critical point in the future of women’s rights in South Africa. The Duchess has taken private visits and meetings over the last two days to deepen her understanding of the current situation and continue to advocate for the rights of women and girls.

“For more information on the recent events in South Africa, please see link in bio. #AmINext

Supporting, empowering and protecting women is comething that Meghan is cearly passionate about. You just need to look at her previous and ongoing projects to prove this. She recently launched a clothing line for Smart Works, which helps women get back into work. She also collaborated with the women affected by the Grenfell disaster to create a cook book. And she penned an incredible essay about racism and social media trolls. 

This is The New Yorker article that Meghan links to on her bio. 

Images: Getty