Prince Harry and his wife Meghan arrived at the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday on a trip coming days after her estranged father was charged over alleged possession of child sexual abuse images.
A cluster of photographers awaited the couple, also known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as they entered the EU parliament for an event about the dangers children face on social media.
It was Meghan’s first public appearance since her father Thomas Markle was arrested in Florida on Friday and charged with one count of possession of child sexual abuse material.
Dressed in all black with a small poppy pin, the symbol of remembrance for soldiers who died in battle, Meghan held tightly on to Harry’s hand. The duke was dressed in a sombre dark blue suit, also with a poppy and dark-coloured tie.
The couple projected calm, ignoring a question from the gaggle of journalists waiting at the parliament about her father.
But later Meghan appeared smiling next to Harry as she met European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and Spanish EU lawmaker Antonio Lopez-Isturiz.
The visit also marks the first time the couple appeared together at a public event abroad, since returning to live in Britain this summer after six years in the United States.
The duke and duchess began their visit by opening an art installation honouring children who died because of online abuse and exploitation, dubbed the “Lost Screen Memorial”.
They had been due to give a joint speech, but only Harry is now expected to speak. He will also take part in a panel event with international activists.
An unnamed source told the UK’s Daily Telegraph newspaper that Meghan is “just not strong enough emotionally to be doing any public speaking” following her father’s arrest.
An anonymous friend was quoted as saying in the Times that Harry will speak about “child safety”.
“You can read into his speech what you will, and it can be taken in any number of ways,” they said.
The 82-year-old Markle was taken into custody by FBI agents early Friday at the retirement home where he lives in Lakeland, Florida and has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric examination. — iol
