Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, appeared visibly distressed during a public appearance in Brussels, days after Meghan's estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr, was jailed. The Duchess pulled out of a planned speech to the European Parliament, leaving her husband to deliver the address alone.
Father Jailed Ahead of Online Safety Event
Thomas Markle Sr, 82, was jailed after US authorities said he hacked an electronic monitoring device off his ankle, just days after his arrest for allegedly keeping child sexual abuse material in a Los Angeles lock-up. FBI agents arrested and escorted the wheelchair-bound Markle in handcuffs from a Florida retirement home last week.
The arrest followed the seizure of scores of items, including slides, film negatives and books that contained suspected child sexual abuse images from storage in Los Angeles. Among the alleged material were sexually explicit photographs of him with underage girls, including one taken in what appears to be part of a motel chain in the Philippines.
Emotional Appearance in Brussels
During her first public appearance since the details emerged, Meghan's face was etched with pain. She looked emotional, close to tears, with tension engraved into her face and a heavy, subdued expression. The couple were in Europe to mark the opening of an art installation honouring children who died after being subjected to harm online.
Meghan abruptly pulled out of a planned speech to the European Parliament because she did not feel emotionally strong enough. It should have been a joint keynote address, but it was left to her husband to deliver it solo.
Harry Speaks as a Father
Harry said children "deserve to feel safe wherever they are", adding: "I'm not here as an expert or a politician. I'm here as a father. My wife, as a mother." He continued: "All children should be able to go online and discover something wonderful. A friend. An interest that becomes a passion. A place where they feel understood. They deserve to feel safe wherever they are. In a classroom. On a playground. At any time, no matter where they are."
Since the couple quit royal life and fled Britain in 2020 to start a new life in California, they have won few friends and lost many more, remaining deeply unpopular according to polling. Seven years ago, the Metropolitan Police showed Meghan a letter containing what she described as "disturbing allegations" about her father. He denies any wrongdoing, but it precipitated their effective divorce.
