The Duchess of Sussex has broken her silence over her estrangement from her father, Thomas Markle Snr, saying her decision to keep him away from her children was to protect them. It comes as the 82-year-old is reportedly under investigation over child abuse images said to have been found at his home in the Philippines.
In a statement released today, Meghan, 45, said she was 'deeply distressed' by the news and revealed that she had been aware of allegations against her father since 2018. She said a letter sent to the Metropolitan Police that year made 'troubling and disturbing allegations' and she was given assurances they were being investigated.
Meghan's Statement in Full
'I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed,' the statement read. 'In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. That letter was subsequently shared with me.'
'It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated. I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications' distortion 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: to protect them.'
She added: 'I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families. Although the breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine, my sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children.'
A Relationship in the Public Eye
Thomas Markle Snr and the Duchess have been estranged since her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018. Before the ceremony, Meghan described her relationship with her father as 'close-knit'. He was due to walk her down the aisle but pulled out after a heart attack and following controversy over staged paparazzi photos.
In the years that followed, Markle Snr gave multiple interviews appealing to Meghan to make contact. In 2020, he called the breakdown 'ridiculous' and said he would tell her: 'I love you, and let's sit down and work this out.'
In 2022, Meghan spoke about 'losing' her father, telling The Cut: 'I think forgiveness is really important. It takes a lot more energy to not forgive.' In their Netflix series, she said she learned her father would not attend the wedding 'through a tabloid'.
Recent Reconciliation Attempts
In 2025, after having his left leg amputated in the Philippines, Markle Snr said he did not want to die estranged from his daughter. A spokesperson for the duchess confirmed she had 'reached out to her father'. Mr Markle told the Mail on Sunday: 'I don't want to die estranged from Meghan. I want to meet my grandkids.'
