Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, appeared at the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. During the visit, Prince Harry called for increased transparency from technology companies regarding social media content and its impact on children. The event marked the couple's first public appearance since the arrest of Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle Sr., on suspicion of possessing images of child abuse.
The appearance took place at the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial, a monument dedicated to children who died following harm experienced on social media. The memorial consists of oversized smartphone replicas, each displaying a photograph of a deceased child on its screen. While the Duchess accompanied her husband to the event, she withdrew from a scheduled speaking role because she did not feel "strong enough emotionally," according to a person familiar with her reasoning.
Prince Harry’s remarks focused on the accountability of social media platforms. He urged companies to avoid showing children content they would not show their own children. He specifically addressed the difficulty parents face when trying to access the digital history of deceased children, noting that some families have waited up to eight years to bypass privacy policies and gain access to devices to understand the circumstances of a child’s death.
The visit follows the Friday, November 6, 2026, court appearance of Thomas Markle Sr. in Florida. The 82-year-old was charged with possessing child sexual abuse material after allegations surfaced in October 2026. Mr. Markle has denied the allegations, describing them as "sick lies."