Meghan skips joint child-safety speech after father's arrest
Meghan Markle will attend but not speak at a European Parliament child-safety event after her father was charged with possession of child-abuse material.
The Duchess of Sussex will be present at a European Parliament event in Brussels on Tuesday but will not deliver the planned joint keynote on child safety with the Duke of Sussex. The decision follows the arrest of her father, Thomas Markle Sr., who appeared in a Florida court on charges of possessing child-abuse material.
"She’s just not strong enough, emotionally, to be doing any public speaking right now," a source told The Telegraph.
Meghan will still accompany Prince Harry, who will give a solo address at the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial, an art installation honoring children who have died after online harm. During the 82-year-old’s court appearance, a judge imposed travel restrictions and ordered a psychiatric evaluation. He was released on bail and faces a further hearing in California in several weeks, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
A spokesperson for the Duchess of Sussex was contacted for comment but did not respond.