Prince Harry delivers speech about online child safety days after Meghan Markle’s father’s arrest
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: Prince Harry shared an emotional plea about children’s safety in the online world while delivering a speech at the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial installment at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, on Tuesday, November 10.
The speech came days after his wife Meghan Markle’s estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., was arrested for allegedly possessing improper material related to children.
The couple reportedly traveled to Brussels to support the new installment of the Lost Screen Memorial, which honors children who lost their lives due to the perils of social media.
Prince Harry says every child ‘deserves to feel safe wherever they are’
The Duke of Sussex took the stage at the event as Markle sat nearby. “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?” Harry asked as he began his speech, per PEOPLE.
Continuing further, Harry stated, “I’m not here as an expert or a politician. I’m here as a father. My wife, as a mother. And together, as a couple who stand alongside parents like Sandra, Megan and Sewell — in New York, Los Angeles, Geneva and now Brussels. Parents who never imagined they would have a reason to be in rooms like this.”
The 42-year-old, who shares son Prince Archie, 7, and daughter Princess Lilibet, 5, with Markle, questioned why things become complicated whenever it comes to children’s safety online.
“I am not asking for a world without technology. That isn’t possible, it isn’t what young people want, and it certainly isn’t what I want for my own children,” Harry added, before asserting, “All children should be able to go online and discover something wonderful. They deserve to feel safe wherever they are. In a classroom. On a playground. At any time, no matter where they are.”
Meghan Markle’s dad to be prosecuted ‘to the fullest extent of federal law’
Prince Harry’s speech came just a few days after Thomas Markle Sr’s arrest. Following his detention, FBI Director Kash Patel said, “This FBI will use every single resource at our disposal to protect innocent kids – any predator who targets children will have zero safe haven in this country, or anywhere they try to hide.”
“Thank you to FBI Los Angeles, FBI Tampa, our Mexico, Manila, and Marshall Islands Law Enforcement Attaches, and our partners who executed quickly in this case,” he added.
Additionally, First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli said, “These allegations are extremely serious, and we will prosecute Mr Markle to the fullest extent of federal law.”
Earlier, Markle Sr. had denied the allegations, calling them “the worst thing anyone could accuse me of.” In a statement to The Daily Mail, he had added, “I could never do what I'm being accused of. It's the worst thing anyone could accuse me of.”
