Meghan Markle cancels speech amid controversy over father's legal charges

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, cancelled a planned address at a European Parliament gathering in Brussels on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. This move occurred during her first public appearance since her father, Thomas Markle, was charged by US authorities last week with the possession of child sexual abuse imagery. The evidence, which includes photographs of the 82-year-old with naked underage girls, was reportedly discovered in rented storage units in California. Thomas Markle has denied these allegations.

While Meghan appeared alongside Prince Harry at the opening of the 'Lost Screen Memorial'—an art installation focused on the dangers of social media for children—she did not deliver her speech. A spokesperson confirmed the cancellation, and the Daily Telegraph reported that the Duchess did not feel 'strong enough' to speak following her previous statement that she was 'deeply distressed' by the charges. The royal couple, dressed in black, ignored questions from the press, and a spokesperson stated that Prince Harry would not address the ongoing legal situation regarding his father-in-law.