Meghan Markle gave a speech at the One Young World conference in 2022 (Image: Savion Washington/Getty Images)

Meghan Markle referenced herself almost 50 times in ten minutes as she made her maiden speech at a conference in Manchester for the first time since quitting the Royal Family in 2022. Tom Bower’s book, Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family, serialised in The Times, details Meghan’s opening ceremony speech at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall.

Mr Bower refers to the moment the co-founder of One Young World’s daughter read Meghan’s speech. He wrote: “In the countdown to the big moment, Ella Robertson read Meghan Markle’s proposed speech on the Autocue. ‘She’s f***ed it,’ groaned Robertson.

“Instead of speaking as agreed about the charity One Young World, Meghan’s speech was focused on herself. Nearly fifty times in just ten minutes, she intended to say ‘I’.”

Global charity ‘One Young World’ seeks to develop young leaders who are working to solve the world’s biggest challenges, including climate change, human rights violations, sexual violence, and mental health.

It plays host to over 2,000 young leaders representing more than 190 countries, who gather in the host city for influential speeches, panels, workshops and networking sessions.

The One Young World Summit marked the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s first visit to the UK after the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022.

Tom Bower’s book, which will be released later this month on March 26, explores what happened behind the scenes of the event.

Bower’s book has received criticism from the couple (Image: LI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images))

Bower’s book has received criticism from the couple, after extracts were serialised in The Times.

A spokesperson said in a statement: “Mr Bower’s commentary has long crossed the line from criticism into fixation.

 
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“This is someone who has publicly stated, ‘the monarchy in fact depends on actually obliterating the Sussexes from our state of life,’ language that speaks for itself. He has made a career out of constructing ever more elaborate theories about people he does not know and has never met.

“Those interested in facts will look elsewhere; those seeking deranged conspiracy and melodrama know exactly where to find him.”