The Duchess of Sussex was left speechless by a cheeky teenager after he stole a kiss on the cheek and declared to a packed assembly hall: ‘She really is beautiful.’

Meghan spoke with delighted pupils at the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, east London, during a surprise visit ahead of International Women’s Day.

After urging male pupils in particular to ‘value the women in your lives’ and ‘set the example for some men who are not seeing it that same way’ she invited one ‘brave young man’ up on stage to tell fellow students why the anniversary was important to him.

Head boy Aker Okoye, 16, jumped at the chance and boldly greeted Meghan with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Just as the applause died down he got an even louder cheer by opening his answer with the cheeky aside: ‘She really is beautiful, innit. I had to speak the truth there.’

Metro uk