The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are in Brussels today for the latest opening of the Lost Screen Memorial, this time at European Parliament. They announced this trip last week, days before Thomas Markle was arrested but after the story broke about Markle’s possession of child abuse images. Still, I would imagine the Brussels trip had been planned for weeks, if not months. The realities of Markle’s arrest and the charges against him have taken a real toll on Meghan though. On Monday, the day before the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial, Team Sussex confirmed that while Meghan would still attend the opening, she would no longer give a keynote speech alongside her husband.
The Duchess of Sussex was expected to introduce her husband and was thought likely to refer to the need to support all vulnerable children. The Duchess of Sussex will no longer deliver a planned speech on Tuesday about online child safety as she is “not strong enough” after her father’s arrest.
The Duchess and the Duke had been due to deliver the keynote address at the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial at the European Parliament in Brussels. The Duchess was expected to introduce her husband and was thought likely to refer to the need to support all vulnerable children. The comment would probably have been interpreted as a thinly veiled response to allegations made against her father, Thomas Markle, 82.
But following his arrest by the FBI on Friday and his subsequent appearance in a Florida court charged with the possession of child abuse images, the Duchess has decided not to speak at the event.
“She’s just not strong enough, emotionally, to be doing any public speaking right now,” a source told The Telegraph.
The Duke will deliver his speech as planned and is said to hope his words will be understood in the context of the arrest of his father-in-law, whom he has never met. He will be accompanied by the Duchess, in her first public appearance since the allegations about her father surfaced last month.
After the Duke’s speech, the couple will walk through the Lost Screen Memorial, an art installation honouring children who have died after being subjected to harm online, before the Duke will take part in a panel discussion. The memorial depicts 50 phones, each with a lock-screen with a picture of a child who died after being exposed to the harmful side of social media.
I think it’s totally understandable that Meghan would feel too emotional and like her world has flipped upside down. It’s also understandable if Meghan was stepping back because she didn’t want her speech and presence to be a distraction to a cause she and Harry care about deeply. Because that would absolutely happen. I’m not saying I agree with that, but that’s how it would be reported and written about. They would center Meghan and “her first appearance since her father’s arrest,” and people would jump down her throat regardless of what she said. The people who gave Thomas Markle thousands of dollars to publicly disparage Meghan for years are now the same people screaming 24-7 about how Thomas’s depravity is entirely Meghan’s fault. It’s really sick, twisted stuff in all directions.
I’m including some pics from Brussels today, and we’ll have more coverage in other posts. Meghan looked beautiful, but also stressed, somber and sad. The past month has been hellish.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Cover Images.
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- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, to attend the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial. Featuring: Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex Where: Brussels, Belgium When: 10 Nov 2026 Credit: Nicolas Tucat/PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, to attend the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial Featuring: Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex Where: Brussels, Belgium When: 10 Nov 2026 Credit: Nieboer/DDP/INSTARimages **USA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, arrive at the European Parliament in Brussels, to raise awareness of the dangers children face on social media. The couple are visiting to unveil the Lost Screen Memorial, an installation honouring children who lost their lives as a result of online harm. The project, supported by their Archewell Foundation, calls for greater protection of children in the digital world. Featuring: Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex Where: Brussels, Belgium When: 10 Nov 2026 Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NETHERLANDS OR FRANCE**
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- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, arrive at the European Parliament in Brussels, to raise awareness of the dangers children face on social media. The couple are visiting to unveil the Lost Screen Memorial, an installation honouring children who lost their lives as a result of online harm. The project, supported by their Archewell Foundation, calls for greater protection of children in the digital world. Featuring: Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex Where: Brussels, Belgium When: 10 Nov 2026 Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NETHERLANDS OR FRANCE**
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- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, arrive at the European Parliament in Brussels, to raise awareness of the dangers children face on social media. The couple are visiting to unveil the Lost Screen Memorial, an installation honouring children who lost their lives as a result of online harm. The project, supported by their Archewell Foundation, calls for greater protection of children in the digital world. Featuring: Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex Where: Brussels, Belgium When: 10 Nov 2026 Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NETHERLANDS OR FRANCE**
I really feel for Meghan. The vitriol and hate is unmatched. If she spoke, every report would say she never protected other children from her father. The ridiculousness of expecting her to go public with allegations when the newspapers wouldn’t because of lack of evidence. She was told the Met Police were investigating when they buried it, what did people expect Meghan Sussex to do?
I fear about how much abuse she can take. I cannot imagine how much stress she has right now. The only good thing I see in those photos is Harry isn’t letting to of her. He has a tight grip on her hand every picture. Meghan is strong beyond belief to keep going and I wish her all the best.
This reminds me of how Eugenie had to end her public-facing work on child trafficking when her father was exposed as a child trafficker. It’s really sick that the media blames women for men’s behavior.
Not the same thing…she was complicit in his cover up,
IMO she should have given her speech amd tripled down on her commitment to protecting children.
I’m sure these last few weeks have been a very traumatic experience for her, even without the vulture media pile on. It’s up to her to decide how much she can do.
There’s always one. I don’t think her commitment to protecting children was ever in doubt.
Totally agree, Amy Bee.
Well, since the Lost Screen Memorial was created by Meghan’s foundation, I don’t think we need to question her commitment to the cause.
Yes, stressed, somber and sad. Also luminous. And like she needs to be back in California again.
I love her coat.
Meghan could not interfere with the police investigation nor arrest her father. If she had even tried the derange rs would have complained how she wanted to arrest her father with no proof. The media has a lot to answer for
@Tessa
yes but i doubt the media will.
Saw a video of a guy discussing how D Wotton claiming Meghan should have said something. And how Wotton was editor of The Sun when they would have gotten the letter.
Reminds me of when V Low admitted he knew Meghan was struggling but claimed he didn’t know about asking for help or the suicidal ideation part.
I am so sorry Meghan. I can’t even imagine what she must be going through. I can’t even imagine what Doria must be going through. Yet she showed up head held high for this important cause. She belongs in such a space as the EU Parliament as a humanitarian. I think it is the right decision for her not to speak. I agree with Kaiser, they would have focused on every word that came out of her mouth and link it to the horrible TM and distract from the real reason why they were there. Her silence and her somber face is all the more impactful. She looked especially beautiful.
I am also sorry that during this horrible time for her, even the supposedly Sussex friendly sites used their platform to get angry at the Sussex Christmas plans, turning everything into a US vs UK culture war. All the faux concern about the Sussex kids if their parents decide to give them a UK holiday season looks silly now. This is where the concern should be. The kids who are victims of online bullying, the algorithm and TM and monsters like him.
I know someone whose “family man” father was arrested for soliciting adult prostitutes and it took her years to even be able to leave her house. The dissonance between her good memories of him and his predatory behavior (the arrest was just the tip of the iceberg) was too much anger and grief to bear. Meghan has to deal with all of this horror that caused immense harm to children in the intense spotlight, and to know that the BRF/media used him to club her down like a baby seal, without trying to stop his known abuses. It’s about as sick a scenario as could be imagined.
In other pertinent UK news – the celeb who wanted to stop being named as he was going to unalive himself has lost his court case. In the worst kept secret ever it IS David Walliams. The UK media are all over this and ironically its the day after Brand was jailed for the same accusations.
Karma is really taking the trash out. I want to him in court and in a jail cell next to his friend Brand (and yes they were good friends who often worked together).
Apols for thread jacking.
The press has never yelled at the Yorkes or Wales about Prince Andrew.
Never
Or the King.
In fact, they had on-air discussions about leaving the Yorks sisters out of it and inviting them to royal family events as usual. Piss Moron himself(!) (I know) advocated for not piling on the sisters for Andrew’s criminal actions.
Did they ever question their then Queen about Andrew?
I didn’t hear/read all this uproar for Sarah. Or even Ann who was worried about Andrew mental health.
Even Fergie got less criticism than meghan. Even with the transcripts of her conversations with e p s t e i n . Such a disgrace.
Respect to Meghan. It would have been understandable and much easier for her to not show up at all.
Nothing illustrates the utter depravity and downright evil of the British tabloids and their adjacent “celebrities” like this whole narrative around Meghan’s father and his arrest. They have spent literally years platforming and elevating this man and demonizing his daughter for not having any relationship with him. All the while they likely knew a good deal about his disgusting crimes. But now, after years of berating Meghan, they have completely flipped and are trying to blame her for his crimes and lack of accountability. There must be a special place in hell for these media leeches who have knowingly platformed and profited from weaponizing a child molester against his own daughter. All because she is an American Black woman who married into their shallow, entitled royal family which hides their own depraved secrets.
I can’t begin to understand what this must be doing to her . Sending prayers up for her and I hope she finds the strength when she is ready to continue to show up and show her support for this very important and impactful cause . She and Harry have created something incredible with this lost screen memorial.
She looked beautiful but very vunerable in the photos .
Actually Harry looked quite pale and drawn also .
They just keep on keeping on but you wonder how much more stress Meghan can take .
No wonder the whole family changed their names. I hope she is holding up okay.
Harry and Meghan’s hands were gripping tight. She could’ve chosen not to go at all. But she didn’t. She still showed up. Bc this work has been important to her and Harry for years now.
Gosh, I love her coat so much!
I wish the Telegraph, and others covering this, would make it clearer that the Lost Screen Memorial was conceived and funded by the Archwell Foundation in partnership with a few other orgs/advocates. I bet a lot of casual observers have lost track of the fact that this powerful installation isn’t just something they’re publicizing or promoting, it’s something they made.
I’m glad she showed up, and at the same time i’m quite sad for her, because she is in the public eye she now has to take on the burden of a society that refuses to hold its predators to account. I am angry because this is a coordinated attack that she has to wade through inorder to hold her head up, this is cruel and unnecassary even for powerful entities because it actually shows the lack of power to hold one woman up to unusal scrutiny just so you can feel better about your selves. i continue to follow this extraordinary woman whose has been thrust into so much pressure
Yeah, I dont blame her for not giving the speech. Her every move is dissected by the british press already – can you imagine if she gave a half smile as she walked to the podium, or smiled as she looked at Harry – the narrative would be “meghan doesnt care about the victims!!!” and if she looked emotional or teary eyed they would criticize her for overacting or playing the victim etc. That’s always true to a large extent for her but I can see how given the emotional nature of this memorial as well as the allegations surrounding her father she is going to take a step back in this context.
With Meghan it’s always been damned if you do damned if you don’t. The issue with not speaking at this event is that it becomes a ‘win’ for her critics who will take credit for silencing her. She’s a very effective speaker and it’s sad that we didn’t get to hear her.
I think it would be far less painful for a father to die than to have him accused of crimes against children.
Meghan has to deal with the anguish of knowing her father abused children — and on top of that, the agony and insanity of the British tabloids somehow finding a reason to blame her after they platformed her father for years. Yet again, she’s been thrown into an upside-down world. It’s just cruel and unfair.
I’m glad she’s both showing up for a cause she believes in and protecting herself against additional wildly unjust commentary.
I feel so much for Meghan in this moment. She is journeying through an emotional hell. It’s hard enough to go through this privately, much harder being in the public eye for it. I hope she takes comfort in the beautiful new family that she has built and protected so well. Bless Harry with his iron hand grip, he will not let her go.
I am so worried about Meghan. She has been put through so much, she looks so fragile.
My heart is with all four of the Sussexes, and with their family members — Doria & Ashleigh in particular — who are also swept up in this horror.
Meghan must be both heartbroken and deeply enraged to know that what she was told was just the tip of an incredibly ugly iceberg, and that the institutions that should have done due diligence to protect children instead did the exact opposite.
Harry must be appalled at the entire situation, heartbroken and enraged on behalf of his beloved, and at the British institutions that he placed his trust in to do the right thing, that failed them all so spectacularly.
Their kids are hopefully protected from this for now, but inevitably someday they too will have to face the facts of what their grandfather turned out to be.
As for the press, I cannot even begin to fathom the pure evil that is being shown by so many. How they can possibly rationalize further abusing this family is simply beyond my comprehension.
They are the only 2 superheroes I know of in England. The other 2 are in the U.S.: President Obama and First Lady Obama. We’ve always got your back, Princess Meghan.