Meghan Markle seen for first time since dad charged with possessing child abuse photos

Meghan Markle seen for first time since dad charged with possessing child abuse photos Prince Harry and Meghan have arrived at the European Parliament in Brussels this morning, where they are due to speak about the importance of child online safety The Duchess of Sussex ignored questions from media about her father on her first public appearance since her dad was charged with possessing child sex abuse images. The Sussexes arrived at the European Parliament in Brussels this morning, where Harry is due to give a keynote speech on keeping children safe online. Meghan had also been due to join in with the keynote address but pulled out yesterday with a source saying she is "not strong enough" for any public speaking. The couple were seen walking hand-in-hand through the entrance of the European Parliament, and ignored questions from reporters about Thomas Markle Sr. Meghan, wearing a long, dark coat with her hair up, held her husband's hand throughout as they walked through the entrance hall. They will also open their Lost Screen Memorial at the parliament, which has been created by their Archewell Foundation to commemorate the lives of children who have lost their lives as a result of the harm they suffered on social media. The joint outing, and their first official trip overseas since their move back to the UK in August, comes just days after Meghan’s dad, Thomas Markle Sr was released on bail after appearing in a US court accused of possessing child sex abuse material. He was arrested by FBI agents on Friday after they seized a haul of material from two Los Angeles storage units he rented for nearly two decades. He is charged with one count of possession of child pornography. When allegations about her father, from whom she has been estranged since 2018, first surfaced last month, she said she was “deeply distressed”. She revealed she was sent a letter via the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection in 2019 which made “troubling and disturbing allegations” about her father, but she was given assurances these were being investigated. Meanwhile, Harry was seen alone on Sunday when he attended a Remembrance Sunday service in Brackley, Northamptonshire, wearing a poppy and his military medals. He and Meghan were not at the Cenotaph in Central Londonw with the rest of the Royal Family. On their brief trip to Brussels today, Harry and Meghan will listen to addresses by European Parliament president Roberta Metsola and MEP Antonio Lopez-Isturiz, the first vice-chair of the Child Rights Intergroup, before delivering their own speech. It is understood Meghan was expected to refer to supporting vulnerable children, in what could have been interpreted as a veiled response to her estranged father, who has been charged with possession of child abuse images. A source said: “She’s just not strong enough, emotionally, to be doing any public speaking right now.” Harry will still give his speech as planned, and it is claimed he hopes his words will be understood with his father-in-law’s arrest. They will also be shown the memorial exhibition, which remembers children who have lost their lives as a result of the harm they suffered on social media. Harry will later join a panel discussion called Beyond Promises: Building A Digital Future That Works For Children to discuss how to protect children online. The panel will cover topics including the responsibilities of tech companies and preventing online child sexual abuse and exploitation. Questions will be permitted from the audience, but not the media.