Say what you like about Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, but you have to concede that she’s gutsy. In the midst of a storm of lurid allegations about her estranged father, Thomas Markle, she is heading to Brussels next week to highlight the online dangers which are ensnaring children around the world today.
Her father is currently being investigated for alleged possession of child sex abuse images. He has denied any wrongdoing, but the police inquiries in the Philippines, where he was living until recently, are gathering pace. It is a source of profound distress for Meghan, and her visit with Harry to meet MEPs on Tuesday will be the first time she’s been seen in public since the allegations surfaced.
Many women would simply hunker down and keep the lowest possible profile, but this is a longstanding engagement and she feels that in the light of the shocking accusations levelled at her father, it’s now more important than ever for her to be there.
She’s a strong woman, but this has been an emotional rollercoaster. She and Harry are trying to build a new life with their children back in the UK. That, in itself, has been challenging enough, particularly given the open hostility towards her from trolls on social media and parts of the mainstream media.
The hand grenade thrown into their Cotswold life by the accusations facing her father have left her full of anguish for the alleged victims and their families. She is said to be devastated by the suffering they may all have endured. At the same time, there is some vindication for the Duchess. She is relieved that people can now understand why she has disowned her father for the past seven years, ever since she was shown a letter sent to the Metropolitan Police containing the allegations.
Meghan may be strong, but she’s going to need the support of her husband at this relatively high-profile event at the European Parliament building. Together they will be opening an exhibition featuring The Lost Screen Memorial, an art installation and awareness campaign initiated by their Archewell Foundation. It is a graphic and poignant memorial for children who have lost their lives as a result of the harm they suffered on social media. The campaign is to force the big tech companies to design their apps with safety in mind.
Strong as she is, those who know her say the past few weeks have taken their toll. She is, they tell me, “OK… as well as can be expected, in the circumstances”. The last time she was asked if she was “OK” was in a TV interview at the end of a royal tour of South Africa in 2019. Her answer – that “not many people had asked that” – sparked the first concerns about how she had adapted to life as part of “The Firm”. Her exit, with Harry, followed not long after.
You have to wonder whether anyone within the Royal Family has lent a sympathetic ear to Meghan this time. After all that has been said and written, family relationships remain as delicate as gossamer, but now might be exactly the moment to hold out a hand of friendship. The Sussexes have largely been restrained about commenting on the rest of the Royal Family since their return. And they have made efforts to avoid diary clashes when working members of the family are carrying out important engagements.
One thing is for sure: Meghan will draw great comfort from having Harry at her side in Brussels. He is hugely protective of her and, unusually, they are making a joint speech at the event. Afterwards, the Duke will take part in a panel about child safety. But Meghan has chosen to sit that one out because she’s not sure how she’s going to feel mentally on the day. The audience will be free to ask questions – but there’s a veto on questions from the press.
The headlines, though, will keep on coming. The latest reports from the Philippines suggest that the police are now investigating not only Thomas Markle Sr, but also Meghan‘s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr. At this stage they say he’s not a suspect, but “a person of interest” in their enquiries about child sexual abuse.
The Duchess has had nothing to do with him for years, but this twisted tale of alleged depravity in her American family is a heavy burden for her to carry.