Prince Harry and Meghan back EU campaign against online bullying
The Duke of Sussex, in Brussels, praised the EU Kids Act, the proposed law regulating how children use online services, while the Duchess stayed silent following her father’s arrest over alleged possession of child sexual abuse material.
Published on 10 November 2026 - 10:58 GMT+1•Updated 10:58
Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, on Tuesday backed the European Union's campaign to protect children from online harassment during a visit to the European Parliament in Brussels.
In an emotional speech, 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 at an event organised by the Parliament’s Intergroup on Children’s Rights.
He also praised the proposed EU Kids Act, which aims to strengthen protections for children online, for shifting the burden of responsibility from parents to social media companies.
Meghan made her first public appearance since her estranged father was arrested in the US on suspicion of possessing child sexual abuse material.
She joined Harry for private meetings with MEPs and an official event attended by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, but did not deliver a planned speech, reportedly because the past two weeks had been emotionally difficult.
At the Parliament, the couple unveiled the “Lost Screen Memorial”, first launched in New York last year. The poignant display features photographs of young people whose deaths have been linked to online harms.
They 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.
Harry and Meghan have spent years campaigning for stronger online protections and supporting families who have lost children to online harms.
The European Parliament is currently debating the proposed EU Kids Act, which includes measures to delay children's access to social media, introduce age verification checks and strengthen default safety protections, including restrictions on addictive features.
