Meghan Markle cut off by transgender rights heckler during speech in Colombia

Meghan Markle's speech on female empowerment in Colombia was disrupted by a heckler .

The Duchess of Sussex was speaking at the Afro Women and Power conference in Cali, Colombia, on Sunday afternoon, with Prince Harry showing his support. Meghan delivered her address in both English and Spanish at the Enrique Buenaventura Municipal Theater, where she called Colombia's vice-president Francia Marquez, who extended the invitation to the Sussexes, "my friend".

She also honored Vice-President Marquez, Colombia's first Black vice-president, for her role in inspiring future generations. However, the event took an unexpected turn when Vice President Marquez was interrupted by a heckler from the audience, questioning her about transgender rights.

Ms. Marquez replied: "I'm talking about women in general. We've got a programme for trans women as well."

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The heckler then sat down and was permitted to remain seated for the duration of the event. In her speech, Meghan acknowledged Harry for his support and for helping her feel that her voice matters. She shared insights into their family life, revealing that their three-year-old daughter has 'already found her voice', and expressed gratitude towards her mother, Doria.

Meghan, 43, praised her husband Harry, 39, during an event where they appeared together, holding hands affectionately. She highlighted their teamwork and Harry's support for women's empowerment, saying: "Yes, we work incredibly well together as a team, but as my husband is great testament to, the role of men in this of empowering women, of allowing them to know that their voices are heard, starting at a young age all the way through adulthood, is key. For us and the work that we do with our Archewell Foundation, certainly the work that we do as parents, as I do as a mother, is ensuring that young girls feel as though their voices are being heard."

"And also that young boys are being raised to listen and to hear those young women as well. And the same goes for adult women and men. This isn't something that can be solely responsible and in the hands of just women."

Speaking about her daughter Lilibet, Meghan continued: "I think part of the role modelling that I certainly try to do as a mother is to encourage our daughter, who at three, she has found her voice, and we're so proud of that."

She went on to say, "That is how we, as I was saying, create the conditions in which there's a ripple effect of young girls and young women knowing that if someone else is encouraging them to use their voice and be heard, that's what they're going to do, and they're going to create a very different environment than so many of us grew up in where our voices were meant to be smaller. And now in raising them, we're changing the conditions in the environment where everyone has space to be the best version of themselves."

Meghan further added: "I find inspiration in so many of the strong women that are around me. Of course, my mother being one of them."

She concluded by saying: "I'm just really relaxed on this trip. That's probably because it's Columbia, and you all know how to have fun, but there's been something really that's true, there's something so liberating about being able to be yourself and be comfortable in your skin and be surrounded in a space that is excited to see you exactly the way that you are."

"And so I think that is part of the chapter for me, of joy that will hopefully continue to inspire and allow me to to keep doing the work that we love to do, which is to just be of service and see other people live their lives in that same joyful spirit."

Speaking from the heart in Spanish, Meghan touched the audience with her introduction: "I would like to begin in Spanish because we are in your country. Sorry if my Spanish is not perfect because I learned 20 years ago in Argentina, but I'm trying because here I can feel this community and this feeling which is the best in the world. My husband and I, and I can feel this embrace from Colombia. It's incredible, so many, many thanks because the culture, the history, everything has been like a dream on this trip."

Later, the couple is set to immerse themselves in cultural festivities as they plan to attend the Petronio Alvarez Festival, which celebrates the vibrancy of Afro-Colombian music.