Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are continuing their Brussels trip despite her father’s arrest, as the cancellation could deal a “debilitating” blow to their brand, an expert says.
“I’m sure Harry and Megan would rather drink hot lava than go to Brussels because there will be a lot of stories highlighting the Thomas Markel scandal, and Megan will be asked about it multiple times during the tour,” brand expert Eric Schiffer exclusively told Page Six.
He continued: “But canceling the Lost Screen Memorial tour, which honors children who have lost their lives to online and social media abuse, would be much worse, as the additional attention and questions would be debilitating to their brand.”
The chairman of Reputation Management Consultants believes the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should address the elephant in the room.
“Megan should address the federal charges in a statement consistent with her previous statement on October 23,” Schiffer advised.
Although their plans to attend the event have not changed in light of the scandal, the Telegraph reported that Markle will no longer speak because she is “not emotionally strong enough.” Therefore, Harry will deliver the speech while Markle will simply be present.
“I can imagine that this mind-blowing horror show is extremely upsetting, embarrassing and frustrating for Meghan, who is very concerned about her brand and her image,” Schiffer said. “At the same time, revealing that vulnerability and concern is very human and will create sympathy for her at a time when she can also benefit from it, as her brand takes body blows.”
Markle, 45, and Harry, 42, are expected to visit the Belgian capital on Tuesday, marking their first joint trip abroad since returning to the UK in August after living in California for six years.
The couple will unveil the Lost Screen Memorial, paying tribute to children who have died as a result of social media-related harm, having previously presented the installation in New York last April and in Switzerland in May.
Their appearance will come just days after Meghan’s estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., was arrested for possession of child pornography in Florida last Friday.
Reports surfaced last month that Thomas Sr. was under investigation after his son, Thomas Markle Jr., accused him of possessing a trove of child pornography. He denied the accusations, calling them “sick lies.”
Thomas was arrested by the FBI last week before being placed under house arrest at Maravida Senior Living Center in Lakeland, Florida, where he had moved days earlier amid reports of a dementia diagnosis. However, the living center did not let him return and he is now said to be living with his daughter, Samantha Markle.
An insider exclusively confirmed to Page Six that Meghan and Harry will be keeping quiet about the arrest.
Meghan, who has been estranged from her father since 2018, revealed that she has known about the allegations against Thomas Sr. for a few years.
“I hope it can now be understood that, despite the distortion of some media publications over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children was for one reason only: to protect them,” Markle, who shares two children with Harry, said in a statement on October 23.
“I had confidence that the authorities were doing the same thing for other families,” she added.
Page Six has contacted representatives for Meghan and Harry for comment.
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