Meghan and Harry do first public event since her father's arrest

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, made their first public appearance together since the arrest of Meghan's father, Thomas Markle Sr., in the United States. The two were seen holding hands as they entered the European Parliament in Brussels, having been scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at the Lost Screen Memorial.

However, Meghan opted to withdraw from the speech, leaving Harry to address the event alone. The event's focus was on online child safety, and Harry's remarks held particular significance for his wife and the audience, given the recent allegations against her father. A source close to Meghan, royal editor Roya Nikkhah of Britain's Sunday Times, revealed that she was "very, very emotional" and that is the reason behind her decision to pull out of the speech.

Nikkhah stated that Meghan decided to attend the event in "solidarity," which she described as a strong indication of her passionate feelings on the issue. Last month, Meghan had expressed deep distress over the allegations against her father, which had played a significant role in her and Prince William's decision to keep him away from their children.

According to an FBI affidavit, investigators found numerous items, including slides, film negatives, and books, at two storage units in Los Angeles, with some photographs allegedly showing Thomas Markle Sr. with children in various stages of undress. The Philippine police also confirmed ongoing investigations into alleged child sexual abuse materials found at Markle's former home in Cebu.

Meghan has expressed her willingness to cooperate with the FBI investigation and any other investigations worldwide. However, Nikkhah noted that the duchess would need to navigate this difficult situation carefully, as carrying on with public work might not be straightforward. The royal couple's appearance at the European Parliament marked their first public event since returning to the U.K. after spending over six years in the United States.