Duchess Meghan canceled her planned speech in Brussels at the last minute. Although the Duchess of Sussex traveled to the event at the European Parliament with Prince Harry, she did not speak. According to Metro, it had been confirmed that she would accompany her husband but would no longer address the audience. The original plan had been for both of them to speak together for up to 20 minutes.
Meghan Attended While Harry Delivered His Speech Alone
A spokesperson for the duchess had confirmed: "The Duchess is travelling with the Duke to Brussels and will accompany him to the event but will not speak."
Harry delivered the keynote address at the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial, which honors children and teenagers who have died following online harm.
For Meghan, the appearance marked her first public outing since allegations involving her estranged father had made headlines again. A source told The Telegraph: "She's just not strong enough, emotionally, to be doing any public speaking right now."
Thomas Markle Sr. Appeared in Court in Florida
The decision came amid the ongoing situation involving Meghan's father, Thomas Markle Sr. The 82-year-old appeared in a Florida court on November 6 after being charged with possessing child sexual abuse material. He did not enter a plea and was released on personal recognizance under strict conditions, including home detention and electronic monitoring.
He was also prohibited from traveling outside the Middle District of Florida and the Central District of California. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, investigators searched two Los Angeles-area storage units he had rented since 2008 and seized approximately 78 items, including slides, film negatives and books containing suspected illegal material.
The allegations have not been proven, and Markle is presumed innocent unless found guilty in court.
Thomas Markle Jr. Reportedly Discovered the Material
The investigation began after an individual reportedly discovered suspected illegal material among Markle's belongings in the Philippines and reported it to authorities. The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed that investigators received information from this individual, which helped lead them to the two storage units in California.
Meghan has been estranged from her father since 2018, when their relationship broke down in the lead-up to her wedding to Prince Harry. The dispute followed his involvement in staged paparazzi photographs that were published before the wedding.
The Couple's Return to the UK Coincided With the School Year
Meghan had previously described the allegations against her father as deeply distressing in a public statement. She also expressed hope that justice would be served and that the safety and protection of children would remain the priority.
Harry's speech in Brussels focused on online child safety and the responsibility of technology companies. He did not directly address the legal proceedings involving his father-in-law.
The couple returned to the United Kingdom from California in August 2026 for an extended stay, with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, initially expected to attend school there. However, the children were withdrawn from the school shortly after the start of term.
