Prince Harry and Meghan have backed a European Parliament campaign calling for stronger protections for children online, putting renewed attention on the European Union’s proposed EU Kids Act and the risks of cyberbullying.
During a visit to the European Parliament in Brussels on 10 November 2026, the Duke of Sussex spoke at an event organised by the Parliament’s Intergroup on Children’s Rights. Meghan attended meetings and the wider programme but did not deliver a planned speech.
Harry calls for greater accountability from technology companies
Harry used the event to criticise social media companies for failing to make their services sufficiently safe for children. He argued that platforms should bear greater responsibility for preventing online harassment rather than leaving parents to manage the risks alone.
“These companies have caused so much harm, there has to be accountability,” he said, according to the event coverage.
His comments place the couple’s long-running campaign against online harms alongside an active European policy debate. The proposed EU Kids Act is intended to strengthen safeguards for children who use digital services, although the measure remains under discussion and is not yet an adopted EU law.
What the proposed EU Kids Act could change
The European Parliament is debating measures that would change how online platforms protect younger users. The proposals referenced at the Brussels event include:
- Delaying children’s access to some social media services;
- Introducing stronger age-verification checks;
- Improving safety settings by default;
- Restricting features considered particularly addictive; and
- Placing more responsibility on technology companies to reduce foreseeable online risks.
The precise legal obligations, timetable and final scope will depend on the outcome of the EU legislative process. Parliamentary debate alone does not make the proposal binding. Further institutional steps would be required before any final rules could apply.
Why the proposal matters
Children’s online safety has become a major issue in European digital regulation. Policymakers are examining how platform design, recommendation systems, age checks and harmful interactions can affect younger users.
The debate also raises practical questions about enforcement. Any new rules would need to balance child protection with privacy, freedom of expression and workable systems for verifying age. Responsibility could fall on online service providers, national authorities and EU-level regulators, depending on the final legal framework.
‘Lost Screen Memorial’ displayed in Brussels
Harry and Meghan unveiled the “Lost Screen Memorial” during their visit. The display, first launched in New York in 2025, 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 died by suicide after an intimate image of him was shared on social media. His story was presented as part of the wider discussion about harassment, image-based abuse and the consequences that online activity can have for families.
The memorial gives the policy debate a personal dimension. While legislation is discussed in institutional terms, families affected by online abuse continue to press for faster intervention, safer platform design and clearer accountability.
Meghan attends Brussels programme but does not speak
The appearance was also Meghan’s first public event since the arrest of her estranged father in the United States on suspicion of possessing child sexual abuse material. The allegation has not been established as a conviction.
Meghan took part in private meetings with Members of the European Parliament and attended an official event involving European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. She did not give the speech that had reportedly been planned, with the source report saying the previous two weeks had been emotionally difficult.
The couple’s public role in Brussels therefore combined policy advocacy with a more limited appearance from Meghan. Their involvement nevertheless drew attention to the European debate over the responsibilities of digital platforms.
What happens next with the EU online-safety proposals?
The EU Kids Act remains a proposed measure rather than a final regulation. Its future will depend on the continuing European legislative process, including consideration of the text and any negotiations required between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission.
Until formal adoption and the relevant implementation stages are completed, existing EU digital rules remain the legal framework for online services. The proposal could still change as lawmakers examine issues such as age assurance, platform design, parental responsibility and the protection of children’s personal data.
For families in Ireland and elsewhere in the EU, the practical significance will depend on the final text and its application date. Parents, children, schools and technology companies would all have an interest in understanding any eventual obligations.
Conclusion
Prince Harry and Meghan’s Brussels appearance has brought fresh public attention to the EU’s campaign for safer digital services for children. The proposed EU Kids Act could strengthen age checks and default safeguards, but it is still being debated and is not yet law. The key next step is the completion of the EU legislative process and clarification of how any final measures would be enforced.