Meghan Markle has made a crucial point when it comes to our discussion of female empowerment, arguing that women 'don't need to find a voice', but they need to be 'encouraged to use it', and people must listen.

The 36-year-old actress and philanthropist was attending the first annual Royal Foundation Forum with Prince Harry, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, during which she was asked how she will focus on the empowerment of women and girls within the royal charitable vehicle.

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After confirming that she had been partaking in charity work behind-the-scenes before she fully immerses herself in the Royal Foundation later this year, Markle went on to address the current Time's Up and #MeToo movement, outlining that men's support of women speaking out makes a 'fundamental difference'.

'What's interesting is, I hear a lot of people - when speaking about girls and women empowerment - you'll often hear people say, "well, you're helping women finding their voices and I fundamentally disagree with that",' the former Suits star said.

'Women don't need to find a voice, they have a voice, and they need to feel empowered to use it, and people need to be encouraged to listen. '

Markle - who wore a blue satin Jason Wu dress (available here) for the event - joked that she and Harry would have to 'wait a couple of months' - as in, until their royal wedding - before they could announce the charity work they would be focusing on together in the future.

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She also said that there is no better time than now to shine a light on women's empowerment, continuing: 'I think right now in the climate that we're seeing so many campaigns - MeToo, Time's Up - there is no better time to shine a light on women feeling empowered, and people really helping to support them...

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'Men included in that - it makes a such tremendous different. I guess we will have to wait a couple of months and then we can hit the ground running...'

There is no better time to shine a light on women feeling empowered

Time's Up aims to combat sexual harassment and assault in all industries.

Markle admitted that she was currently unable to elaborate on her behind-the-scenes work, but it was recently reported that she had visited survivors of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

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Naomi Gordon

Naomi Gordon is news writer mainly covering entertainment news with a focus on celebrity interviews and television.