Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended a memorial service to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the murder of Stephen Lawrence and to celebrate his life and legacy.
It's a very special day for the Royal family. This morning, the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a baby boy at St Mary's Hospital. No doubt Harry and Meghan are hugely excited to meet the latest addition to the family. We're covering the arrival over at Duchess Kate.
The couple arriving.It's a very special day for the Royal family. This morning, the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a baby boy at St Mary's Hospital. No doubt Harry and Meghan are hugely excited to meet the latest addition to the family. We're covering the arrival over at Duchess Kate.
The service was held at St Martin-in-the-Fields church in London.
An arrival video.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive at the commemoration service to mark 25 yrs since the murder of Stephen Lawrence. Harry will be doing a reading @LBC pic.twitter.com/QEZU7kSGJr— Rachael Venables (@rachaelvenables) April 23, 2018
Harry and Meghan met Stephen's mother, Baroness Lawrence and his brother Stuart at the entrance of the church before taking their seat.
The murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993 shook Britain to its core. Born in 1974 to parents Neville, a carpenter, and Doreen, a special needs teacher, Stephen was the eldest of three and grew up in the south-east London suburb of Plumstead. During his teenage years, he excelled in running - competing for the local Cambridge Harriers athletics club - and appeared as an extra in Denzel Washington's film For Queen and Country. At 16, already an aspiring entrepreneur, Stephen set up his own business selling clothes and book covers. His ultimate dream was to become an architect and at the times of his death the "kind", "ambitious" and "fun-loving" teenager was studying hard to achieve his goal.
Following a day of study, 18 year old Stephen spent the evening of Thursday, 22 April 1993 with a friend. As he waited at a bus stop to return home a gang of youths attacked him in a brutal, racially-motivated murder. Stephen didn't know his attackers and they didn't know him. The case became one of the most high-profile killings in UK history; its fallout included profound cultural changes to attitudes on racism and the police, and to the law and police practice, and the partial revocation of double jeopardy laws, before two of the perpetrators were convicted in 2012.
The Telegraph writes 'Stephen Lawrence: How the racist murder changed Britain':
'At the centre of the Stephen Lawrence saga is his parents, Doreen and Neville, whose poise, persistence and eloquence, helped propel the tragedy to the forefront of the nation’s consciousness.
Two weeks after the attack Nelson Mandela was on a visit to the UK and took time to meet with the Lawrences and lend them his support.
At the time Mr Mandela, who was to be elected as South Africa’s first black president the next year, said: “We are very used to this type of thing were life is regarded as very cheap in South Africa. But nevertheless, it is a sense of deep concern that this should happen in a country like Britain”. The comments were a jolt to the nation and prompted the Met Police to go on the defensive about the investigation.
Despite the convictions of Norris and Dobson, The Met Police is still investigating the murder of Stephen Lawrence, although it recently admitted it had no new lines of inquiry.'
In the face of the most unimaginable pain any family can endure, the Lawrence family were determined Stephen would not be forgotten and demonstrated incredible courage and strength. In 1998, Doreen Lawrence established a charity in memory of her son. For the past 20 years the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust has campaigned for fairness, justice and equality for all. The trust has a continuing commitment to supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to create a fairer society in which everyone, regardless of their background, can flourish. Stephen's mother Doreen was appointed OBE for "services to community relations" in 2013 and was created a life peer. Last year they supported over 2,000 young people through training, mentoring, bursaries and other activities.
Prime Minister Theresa May was in attendance and announced plans for the government to work with the trust to establish a national annual commemoration of Stephen's life and legacy every year. The 22nd April will be Stephen Lawrence Day.
Meghan sat beside the Prime Minister during the service.
More from The Telegraph:
'Stephen's mother Doreen, now a peer sitting in the Lords, said: "I feel honoured she has recognised the changes that have been made in Stephen's name and the changes that are still needed.
"Stephen was denied his voice but the Stephen Lawrence Day will be an opportunity for young people to use their voices and should be embedded in our education and wider system regardless of the government of the day.”
Baroness Lawrence thanked those who had helped her achieve all she has and said that after 25 years "it is time to draw a line". Stephen’s father, Neville, said: "We have got some justice and now this is like a mark of what we have been trying to do for years - our son's memory is going to be enshrined in history."
Prince Harry read a message of support on behalf of Prince Charles.
Back to The Telegraph story:
'The Prince, who met Stephen's mother and brother Stuart before the service, delivered a personal message of support to the family from his father, the Prince of Wales, who in 2000 gave the annual Stephen Lawrence Memorial Lecture
He told the congregation: "'I remember vividly the profound shock that I felt at his senseless murder, a feeling shared by so many people across this country and beyond.
I remember, too, just how deeply moved I was by the determination of Stephen's family to build something positive from the tragedy they endured and to ensure that Stephen's story did not end with despair, but continued with hope.
A quarter of a century later, we can only imagine the man who Stephen would have become, and just how his extraordinary potential might have been fulfilled."'
The Prince said that the Lawrence family had honoured him with everything they had done in his name and the changes they had instigated.'
A video from the service.
Baroness Lawrence is a truly inspirational woman. Some time ago I watched an incredibly insightful interview with her where she candidly discusses her family's story and lessons the media and police should learn from the case.
If you would like to donate to the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust please click here. Just £5 pays the travel costs for a young person to attend employability training, and £50 pays for a young person to undertake qualifications in starting their own business, which entitles them to financial support and mentoring for a year.
Meghan wore a black patterned sleeveless, belted, Hugo Boss dress from the Spring 2018 Collection (with thanks to Caroline).
Meghan's dress is unavailable online, however the similar Printed Belted Dress retails for $595.
Perth Fashion identified Meghan's clutch as the Wilbur & Gussie Bespoke Charlie Oyster Style.
A closer look at Meghan's pumps. It is thought they are a Manolo Blahnik or Jimmy Choo style.
Meghan wore her hair up for the service and accessorised with diamond and white gold earrings.
A closer look at Meghan's pumps. It is thought they are a Manolo Blahnik or Jimmy Choo style.
Meghan wore her hair up for the service and accessorised with diamond and white gold earrings.
On Wednesday, Prince Harry and Meghan will attend services commemorating Anzac Day in London. Prince Harry and Ms. Markle will attend the Dawn Service at Wellington Arch, and the Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey. The Dawn service begins at 5 a.m. and the Service of Commemoration at Westminster Abbey commences at noon.