Meghan withdraws from Brussels speech after father's arrest

Summarised from 5 outlets · 6 reports · Updated 9 Nov, 16:49 · Archive

Meghan has withdrawn from delivering a joint speech with Prince Harry in Brussels on online child safety after her father's arrest.

Meghan will not deliver a joint keynote speech with Prince Harry at the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday, though she will still attend the event. Harry will speak alone about online child safety at the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial, created by their Archewell Foundation to commemorate children harmed online.

Meghan has withdrawn because she is "not strong enough, emotionally, to be doing any public speaking right now", according to a source cited by The Telegraph. This marks the couple's first official overseas trip since returning to the UK in August.

The withdrawal follows the arrest of Meghan's father, Thomas Markle Sr, who appeared in a US court on Friday. He was arrested by FBI agents after material was seized from two Los Angeles storage units he had rented for nearly two decades. He is charged with one count of possession of child pornography. According to The Mirror, he was released on bail.

How it is being reported

• Meghan 'not emotionally strong enough' for speech as she pulls out after father's arrestMeghan has pulled out of a planned speech because she does not feel emotionally strong enough for public speaking after her father's arrest, Sky News understands.Sky News · 9 Nov, 17:28
• Meghan ‘not strong enough’ to deliver speech with Harry after father’s arrestThe duchess will still travel to Brussels with the duke to visit the European Parliament where Harry will speak about online child safety.Evening Standard · 9 Nov, 17:23
• Meghan pulls out of planned child safety speech in Brussels because she's 'not emotionally strong enough' after her father's arrestMeghan, 45, and Prince Harry, 42, were due to deliver the address at the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial at the European Parliament in Brussels tomorrow.Daily Mail · 9 Nov, 17:10
• Meghan pulls out of child safety speech with Harry after father’s arrestA source said Meghan is ‘not strong enough’ to deliver public speechesThe Independent · 9 Nov, 17:06
• Meghan 'not strong enough' to give speech with Harry on child safety after dad’s arrestPrince Harry and Meghan are due to visit the European Parliament tomorrow in Brussels to speak about online safety for children - but it is understood only Harry will now speak at the eventThe Mirror · 9 Nov, 16:31
• Meghan ‘not strong enough’ to deliver speech with Harry after father’s arrestThe duchess will still travel to Brussels with the duke to visit the European Parliament where Harry will speak about online child safety.Evening Standard · 9 Nov, 16:29

In this story: Meghan · Prince Harry · Thomas Markle Sr · European Parliament · Archewell Foundation · Brussels

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log