Meghan Markle and Prince Harry put on a united front in her first public appearance since her father was arrested on suspicion of possessing child pornography.
On Tuesday, November 10, the Duchess of Sussex, 45, and her husband attended the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial at the European Parliament in Belgium, Brussels.
Meghan and Harry, 42, held hands as they arrived at the building early Tuesday morning. Meghan wore a stylish black coat, while the Duke of Sussex wore a navy suit.
The royals appeared to avoid questions about her father’s arrest, per video footage shared on social media by BBC News.
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The Lost Screen Memorial honors children who have lost their lives after experiencing harm on social media. Later on Tuesday, the royal couple will participate in a debate on how to protect children from harm while browsing the internet.
Meghan and Harry’s outing comes just four days after her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., was taken into federal custody in Florida on Friday, November 6, and charged with one count of possession of child pornography. He was released on bond the same day.
Prosecutors allege that Thomas Sr., 82, kept child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in storage containers he rented in the Los Angeles area for nearly two decades. Investigators seized approximately 78 items, including slides, film negatives and books containing suspected child abuse material. Among the material, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California alleged that investigators found two images of a man believed to be Thomas Sr. with a nude prepubescent girl. Other photos “appear to show Markle with children in various stages of undress.”
Thomas Sr.’s arrest came after his son, Thomas Markle Jr., claimed to The Sun newspaper in October that he discovered material depicting child sexual abuse in storage boxes at his father’s home in the Phillippines and had informed the authorities. Thomas Sr. has denied the allegations.
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In a statement to Us at the time, Meghan said, “I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed.”
Meghan said she became aware of the allegations against Thomas Sr. in 2018.
“In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. That letter was subsequently shared with me. It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated,” Meghan said.
“I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications’ distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children was for one reason: to protect them,” Meghan continued. “I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
