Meghan Markle has been forced to distance herself from a controversial politics figure who asked her for a selfie during her recent trip to Geneva. The Duchess of Sussex travelled to Switzerland to visit a memorial dedicated to those who have died after suffering digital harm.
During a speech at the Lost Screen Memorial in Geneva, she described children’s online safety as a “public health issue” as she was joined by World Health Organisation (WHO) director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Following her speech, Meghan joined a dinner with a group of ministers and WHO delegates, including right-wing politician Wille Rydman.
View 4 ImagesMeghan Markle travelled to Switzerland to deliver a speech about online safety(Image: Getty Images)
Mr Rydman, Finland’s minister for social affairs and health, has been the subject of numerous scandals, as he once allegedly joked about being a Nazi and was embroiled in a racism scandal which saw
Meghan smiled for a selfie with Mr Rydman, which he later posted on Instagram with the caption: “A dinner with Meghan”. Some royal fans were quick to reference Rydman’s controversial past, prompting a spokesperson for the Duchess of Sussex to issue a statement.
The spokesperson told the Mirror : “To be absolutely clear, the Duchess does not know Mr Rydman, had no prior awareness of him attending the event, and was unfamiliar with the concerning reports relating to him.”
View 4 ImagesThe Duchess took a selfie with right-wing politician Wille Rydman(Image: Wille Rydman)
The spokesman added that she had ‘politely’ agreed to his request for a selfie after the meal.
The spokesman added: “Understandably, vetting the background of every person who asks for a selfie, is not possible.
“The Duchess attended a dinner hosted by the World Health Organisation in Geneva, where more than 25 ministers and delegates were present ahead of the World Health Assembly.
“As she was leaving the venue, a number of attendees approached her requesting photographs. As is often the case at public engagements, and where time permits, the Duchess politely obliges such requests.”
During Meghan’s speech at the event in Geneva, she told global health leaders, ministers and families affected by online harm: “Children today are being shaped by systems designed to capture attention at any cost: relentless algorithms, exploitative engagement, and endless exposure to harmful content that they are not seeking out.”
View 4 ImagesMeghan hugs those attending the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The event featured an installation of 50 illuminated lightboxes, each displaying the mobile phone lockscreen image of a child who lost their life because of online violence and digital harm.
Article continues below
Referencing the display, the duchess, dressed in a black Giorgio Armani suit with her hair slicked back in a bun, said: “Each name belonged to a child who was loved beyond measure. A child whose laughter once filled a kitchen. Whose shoes once waited by a front door. Whose future once felt limitless. Now their faces ask the world questions we can no longer avoid.”
She added: “For too long, we have accepted a dangerous bargain: that modern connection must come at the cost of the innocence of childhood. That innovation excuses injury. That speed matters more than safety.” Meghan called on attendees to “speak up” and “demand better from the platforms shaping our children’s lives”.