Meghan Markle will still appear at a major event in Brussels on Tuesday, even though she has withdrawn from delivering a speech on online child safety alongside Prince Harry. The 45-year-old will no longer give the address because she is "not strong enough" emotionally following the arrest of her father, Thomas Markle, last week.
Memorial Event in European Parliament
Despite her reported distress over the allegations concerning her father, Meghan will join Harry in Brussels and attend an event at the Lost Screen Memorial in the European Parliament. The memorial was created by Harry and Meghan's Archewell Foundation to commemorate the lives of children who have died as a result of harm they suffered on social media.
"She's just not strong enough, emotionally, to be doing any public speaking right now," a source told The Telegraph.
Background to the Arrest
Thomas Markle was arrested and charged last week over a haul of alleged child sexual abuse images. He denies the allegations, calling them "sick lies". The investigation began last month after his son, Thomas Markle Jr., reported him to the police in the Philippines and to the FBI. The 60-year-old allegedly found illegal images in his father's belongings in Cebu City. Mr Markle Jr previously told The Sun newspaper he had tipped off the authorities about LA storage facilities. If convicted, Thomas Markle Snr would face at least 20 years in federal prison.
Harry's Solo Speech and Family Plans
The Duke of Sussex's solo speech will draw on the couple's experiences speaking with families affected by online harm. The remarks will "underline the importance of turning commitments into meaningful action and ensuring that the experiences of children and their families remain central to decisions about the digital future".
The visit is expected to be the couple's first public appearance together since her father's arrest and charges. It will be their second joint public appearance since they returned to the UK at the end of August. Meghan and Harry are now said to be living in the Cotswolds with their two children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five.
Harry and Meghan are also reportedly planning to celebrate their first Christmas in the UK since 2018. It was previously reported that the couple would fly back to the US to spend the festive period with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, although she could now join the family of four in Britain.
