How did we reach a point where we can build technology capable of extraordinary things, yet still struggle to make it safe for a child?
Prince Harry asked at the European Parliament in Brussels, where the Duke of Sussex delivered an address on online child safety alongside his wife, Meghan, on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
Brussels Parliament Speech
The royal couple appeared at the European Parliament for the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial, an art installation featuring smartphone-shaped light-boxes displaying lock screen photographs of young people who died as a result of online harm.
Sources close to the Duchess indicated she was in a very emotional space and not feeling strong enough for public speaking, according to reporting by The i Paper. Despite pulling out of her remarks, Meghan joined Prince Harry in Brussels, walking into the building hand in hand and wearing an all-black ensemble as press and waiting delegates looked on, as detailed by Page Six.
In his address to parliament staff, journalists, and members of the European Parliament, Prince Harry railed against the lack of protective measures implemented by major technology firms. He defended strong regulatory approaches, characterizing widespread digital addiction as brainwashing on an extraordinary scale,
as reported by Euronews. Turning his attention directly to the audience, the duke criticized attendees who continued using their mobile devices during the proceedings.
The number of you who continue to look at your phones throughout this process is an example of that,
Harry said, adding a warning about the mental health toll on vulnerable youth. The visit also featured remarks from Sandra Spitaels, whose 15-year-old son Glenn died by suicide in 2017 after a nude image of him was shared online, according to The Daily Mail.
Belgian MEP Hilde Vautmans asked the Duke of Sussex to serve as the “Godfather” of the global coalition of parliamentarians fighting online harassment. European Commission Vice-Dubravka Šuica addressed the gathering to highlight ongoing actions against major social media platforms. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola also spoke at the event, calling for expanded legislation across Europe to criminalize severe online harassment and the non-consensual distribution of intimate images.
Prince Harry stated that everyone bears a responsibility to protect children from technology companies that clearly don't care,
warning that a handful of very powerful people
prefer a social media environment defined by lawlessness, minimal consequences, complete chaos, and division.
He emphasized that children are subjected to phones 20 to 30 times a day or more, noting that young people consider taking their lives because they lack an escape. The duke praised the proposed EU Kids Act for shifting accountability away from parents and onto social media corporations, while also advocating for the prohibition of short-form addictive scrolling.
Lianna McDonald, executive director of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, addressed the panel to report that her organization operates Canada’s national tip line for online crimes against children. She stated that the center receives between 30,000 and 50,000 reports annually, handling approximately six to 10 financial sextortion reports daily, and issues between 10,000 and 20,000 removal requests every day to technology companies hosting child sexual abuse material.
Thomas Markle Sr. Faces Federal Child Abuse Material Charges
The Brussels engagement marked Meghan’s first public appearance since federal agents in Florida took 82-year-old Thomas Markle Sr. into custody on Friday, November 6, 2026. U.S. authorities charged him with one count of possessing child sexual abuse material after investigators allegedly discovered explicit photographs in Los Angeles-area storage units rented by him for nearly two decades, according to Us Weekly.
First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli emphasized the gravity of the accusations in a public statement, stating, These allegations are extremely serious, and we will prosecute Mr. Markle to the fullest extent of federal law.
Following an initial court appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge in Tampa, Florida, Markle was released on bond and mandated to home detention and electronic monitoring, as reported by The Nightly.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated in a Friday, November 6 release that Markle allegedly targeted innocent children and sought to strip away their innocence through criminal actions. According to an FBI affidavit filed with the criminal complaint, federal agents executed a warrant last week to search two Los Angeles-area storage units rented by Markle since 2008, seizing approximately 78 items including slides, 35mm film negatives, and books containing child sexual abuse material.
The investigation was initiated after Thomas Markle Jr. reported finding explicit material in his father’s belongings in Cebu City, Philippines, and at a storage unit in Mexico. Philippine authorities subsequently launched an investigation last month, while British police announced they would refer allegations about Markle to overseas law enforcement agencies after discovering that initial claims were previously omitted from being passed to other authorities.
Meghan has been estranged from her father since 2018, prior to her marriage to Prince Harry. The Metropolitan Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for investigation after failing to pass that report to other law enforcement agencies.
Meghan released a statement last month expressing deep distress over the situation and indicating that her priority remains the protection of innocent children, noting she had prevented her father from having contact with her children Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5. During their arrival at the European Parliament, the couple ignored shouted questions from reporters regarding the ongoing legal case, maintaining a unified front as they advanced their shared advocacy against digital harms.
Earlier coverage: Meghan Markle Cancels Child Safety Speech Following Father's Arrest
