Meghan Markle Appears in Brussels After Father Charged, Cancels Speech

Meghan Markle attended a child online safety event in Brussels on Tuesday, marking her first public appearance since U.S. authorities charged her father, Thomas Markle, with possession of child sexual abuse photos. The couple arrived together, dressed in black, and were greeted by delegates and a large press contingent. A spokesperson said Meghan cancelled her scheduled speech at the European Parliament gathering.

Prince Harry delivered remarks at the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial, an art installation that commemorates children who have died after suffering harm on social media. He highlighted the paradox of advanced technology coexisting with inadequate child safety measures, saying, "How did we reach a point where we can build technology capable of extraordinary things, yet still struggle to make it safe for a child?"

Meghan, who has been estranged from her father since before her 2018 marriage to Prince Harry, previously said she was "deeply distressed" by the allegations and had limited his contact with their children, Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, to protect them.

The Brussels visit follows a joint appearance in Nottingham in October, the first since the couple returned to live in Britain after relocating to the United States in 2020.