Devastated Meghan Markle did not find the strength to speak in public

The Sussexes are reported to have arrived in Brussels to participate in a campaign to protect children online, where the royal couple were due to give a joint speech before Meghan Markle refused to speak. The pair's performance has been changed to have only Harry in the stands, due to the fallout from the arrest of Meghan's father Thomas Markle Sr. Meghan's team confirmed that while the Duchess will also travel to the city and accompany him to the event, she will "not speak." The source claims Meghan is "not strong enough" for public speaking at the moment.

"She's just not emotionally strong enough to speak to the public right now," the source said. Upon arrival, the Sussexes held hands but did not respond when asked to comment.

Prince Harry took to the podium in front of guests, saying a child's safety "shouldn't depend" on which country he is in, ahead of a speech by parents who lost children to online threats. Meghan hugged a mother who gave a compelling speech after losing her baby, whose photos were shared online. It comes after Thomas Markle Sr., 82, appeared in a Florida court charged with possession of child sexual abuse material. The U.S. Department of Justice said he was arrested over a federal complaint that alleged the materials contained "his explicit sexual photographs of prepubescent girls taken in two warehouses in the Los Angeles area that he rented for nearly two decades." The 82-year-old had previously denied allegations of child sexual abuse, calling them "disgusting lies.".

Meghan's visit to Brussels was supposed to be her first public appearance since allegations surfaced against her father, with whom she lives apart. Prince Harry will speak alone at the unveiling of a monument to honour children killed in online attacks. At first, the couple had to talk for 20 minutes between themselves during a rare appearance. The Duke's speech is not expected to mention the arrest of Thomas Markle Sr.

Before being released, the man was placed under house arrest and electronic surveillance, and banned from traveling outside the Middle District of Florida and the Central District of California. The investigation was launched after his son, Thomas Markle Jr., said he found boxes of material containing alleged child sexual abuse materials at his father's home in the Philippines, followed by a raid on a warehouse in Mexico allegedly owned by an 82-year-old man.

Meghan Markle cut off contact with her father in 2018 after he was caught selling paparazzi photos, and she previously described the allegations against him as "disturbing," adding that she "sincerely hopes that justice will be served in full and that the safety and protection of innocent children remains a priority." Harry and Meghan returned to the UK from California this fall just in time for Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet's school year in England.