Meghan has pulled out of a high-profile speaking engagement about online safety for young people as she is “not strong enough” following her father’s arrest on child pornography charges.The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were scheduled to jointly deliver the keynote address at the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial at the European parliament in Brussels on Tuesday, with Meghan expected to present the introduction, including remarks about creating a safer digital world for children.MORE: Shock as Harry, Meghan ‘disappear overnight’However, the Telegraph reported on Monday afternoon, UK time, that she had abruptly pulled out of the speaking portion of her appearance. Meghan will still attend the event alongside her husband, who is also taking part in a panel during the day.Her 82-year-old father, Thomas Markle Senior, was arrested in Florida by the FBI on Friday and subsequently faced court charged with possessing child abuse images.“She’s just not strong enough, emotionally, to be doing any public speaking right now,” a source told the Telegraph of Meghan’s last-minute decision.MORE:‘Oh I don’t know’: Harry’s update on UK moveAfter Harry’s now-solo speech, the couple will be led through the Lost Screen Memorial art installation by European parliament President Robert Metsola, observing depictions of 50 phone lock screens once owned by children who died after suffering online harm.Harry will then take part in a panel discussion, titled “Beyond Promises: Building a Digital Future That Works for Children.”Meghan’s engagement in Brussels marks her first public appearance since the disturbing allegations against her father were first revealed by The Sun. Markle Sr’s son, Thomas Markle Jr, had sparked the initial investigation after handing local police in the Philippines, where he and his father had lived for a period, boxes of material allegedly containing evidence of child sex abuse.It later emerged that Mexican authorities had raided a storage unit in Rosarito Beach rented by Markle Sr, who had lived in the area for 14 years, before moving to Cebu in the Philippines in 2025.He has denied the allegations against him, describing them as “sick lies”.Read related topics:Prince Harry
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