Meghan pulls out of Brussels speech after father's arrest
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, withdrew from a joint online child safety speech with Prince Harry in Brussels, citing emotional strain following charges against her father; she will attend but not speak.
- Magazine
- DPA
- Published Date: 08:55 PM 09 November 2026
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has pulled out of making a joint speech with the Duke of Sussex in Brussels about online child safety because she is "not strong enough" after her father's arrest.
Harry and Meghan had both been due to deliver the keynote address to the European Parliament on Tuesday.
The duchess will still join Harry at the event, but has decided not to speak after Thomas Markle Sr appeared in a US court on Friday charged with possession of child abuse material.
"She's just not strong enough, emotionally, to be doing any public speaking right now," a source told The Telegraph.
The event will be the first time Meghan will have been seen in public since the allegations surrounding Markle Sr.
He appeared in court in Florida on Friday, charged with possessing child sexual abuse images.
Harry's now-solo speech will take place at the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial, an art installation honouring children who have died after being subjected to harm online.
A spokesperson for the duchess has been approached for comment.
- Russell Brand jailed for more than 10 years for rape and sexual assault
- Oscar-winning Chilean director Sebastián Lelio dies at age of 52
- Martine Rose appointed Balenciaga creative director as Kering seeks fresh ideas
- Russell Brand says friends abandoned him after six women accuse British comedian of rape, sexual assault