Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday to attend a panel discussion regarding online child safety and the unveiling of the "Lost Screen Memorial."
The event, which saw the Duke and Duchess of Sussex engage with lawmakers, took place amid reports concerning the legal situation of Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle. While the couple arrived to address the risks children face in digital environments, the Duchess opted not to speak during the event.
The visit centered on the "Lost Screen Memorial," an installation originally launched by the couple’s Archewell Foundation in New York. The exhibit features 50 smartphone screens displaying images of children and young people who died due to online harms.
During the visit, European Parliament member Hilde Vautmans and Parliament Roberta Metsola opened the exhibition. The program included a testimonial from Sandra Spitaels, whose 15-year-old son, Glenn, died by suicide following experiences with cyberbullying.
“As a mother of two teenagers, this theme touches me particularly deeply. Glenn was barely fifteen, the same age as my daughter,” Vautmans told TV Limburg. “His mother, Sandra, should never have had to become an activist. She should have just been able to see her son grow up.”
Following the panel, Vautmans formally asked Prince Harry to serve as the patron for the "Global Coalition of Lawmakers for Children’s Rights in the Digital Age." Vautmans expressed that the presence of the Duke and Duchess could provide necessary momentum to their legislative goals.
“A prince can open doors and thus give our fight for children’s rights extra strength,” Vautmans told TV Limburg. “The whole room was impressed by his knowledge of the subject and his drive to better protect children online.”
The visit to the European Parliament marked the couple’s first public appearance abroad since returning to the United Kingdom. Upon their arrival at the building shortly before 9:00 a.m., the couple walked a red carpet where journalists attempted to question the Duchess regarding her father.
The Duchess did not respond to inquiries from the press and remained in conversation with those accompanying her. While the couple did not attend the official royal wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in London on Sunday, Prince Harry attended an outdoor memorial service in Northamptonshire.
The memorial, supported by the Archewell Foundation, uses a collection of smartphone screens to highlight the stories of young people who died as a result of online bullying and digital harms. It aims to raise awareness among parents and lawmakers regarding internet safety for minors.
European Parliament member Hilde Vautmans requested his patronage for the Global Coalition of Lawmakers for Children’s Rights in the Digital Age, stating that his involvement could help "open doors" and bring visibility to the coalition’s legislative efforts.
Did Meghan Markle address the public during the event?
No. While she attended the panel and the memorial unveiling, the Duchess did not deliver a speech and declined to answer questions from the media during her arrival.
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