Prince Harry has told the European Parliament that children "deserve to feel safe" online, as he opened the Lost Screen Memorial in Brussels alongside the Duchess of Sussex.

The Duke of Sussex delivered the keynote address on his own at the opening of the memorial on Tuesday 10 November, after Meghan pulled out of speaking alongside him because she was not "strong enough emotionally" following her father's arrest.

It was Meghan's first public appearance since her father, Thomas Markle Sr, appeared in court on Friday charged with possession of child sexual abuse material. A spokesperson for the duchess confirmed: "The duchess is travelling with the duke to Brussels and will accompany him to the event but will not speak."

"A child's safety should never depend on where they live"

Opening his speech, Harry asked: "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?"

"All children should be able to go online and discover something wonderful. A friend. An interest that becomes a passion. A place where they feel understood," he said. "They deserve to feel safe wherever they are. In a classroom. On a playground. At any time, no matter where they are."

He added: "A child's safety should never depend on which country they call home." The duke, who said he was speaking as a father rather than an expert or a politician, told the parliament he and Meghan were supporting parents who had lost children to online harm.

Harry accused social media companies of failing to make their platforms safer, leaving children exposed to online harassment and bullying, sometimes with fatal consequences. "These companies have caused so much harm, there has to be accountability," he said.

Backing for the EU Kids Act

Harry praised the proposed EU Kids Act, which the European Parliament is currently debating. The draft law aims to strengthen protections for children online, including measures to delay children's access to social media, introduce age verification checks and strengthen default safety protections, including restrictions on addictive features.

He said the proposed law would shift the burden of responsibility from parents to social media companies, and warned that Europe could not become a safe haven for children while harmful practices simply moved to countries with fewer protections.

After the speech, Harry joined a panel discussion called Beyond Promises: Building A Digital Future That Works For Children, to discuss how legislation and enforcement could translate commitments into meaningful protection for children online.

The Lost Screen Memorial

The Lost Screen Memorial is made up of 50 smartphone screens, each displaying the lock screen photograph of a child whose life was cut short due to the harmful effects of social media. The couple first launched the memorial in New York last year through their charitable organisation Archewell.

At the Parliament, the couple were joined by Sandra Spitaels, whose 15-year-old son Glenn took his own life after a nude image of him was shared on social media. They also met MEPs and attended an official event with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

The one-day trip came after the couple returned to the UK in August. Harry's speech did not directly refer to his father-in-law's arrest, and he has never met Thomas Markle Sr, who was arrested in Florida on 6 November. A source told The Telegraph that Meghan was "not strong enough, emotionally, to be doing any public speaking right now".