Thomas Markle Snr, the estranged father of the Duchess of Sussex, could become the focus of an international investigation into child abuse images spanning three countries, according to a former Metropolitan Police officer.
Dai Davies, who was in charge of royal protection from 1994 to 1998, said the allegations against Meghan Markle's father will have opened a “Pandora's Box.” Investigators could now examine his homes in Mexico, the Philippines and the US, including Pennsylvania and California, he said.
Philippine authorities launch probe
Authorities in the Philippines have already launched an investigation and are analysing digital images reportedly found at the home of the Duchess's estranged father in Cebu. The investigation began after Meghan's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, aged 60, reported last week that he had discovered a stash of child sexual abuse images, handing over four boxes of evidence.
In a statement given to Agence France-Presse, Philippine interior minister Jonvic Remulla said the Philippine national police inspected Markle Snr's former home and found a “trove of child pornography materials as well as a laptop.” He said: “The PNP will coordinate with their counterparts to locate and take appropriate legal actions against Mr Markle if found that there is sufficient evidence to charge him.”
FBI duty of care
Davies said the FBI now has a “duty of care” to step in and investigate the 82-year-old. He said: “This could turn into an International investigation because of the different counties he's lived in and various states. In the UK any British citizen can be investigated from here. Definitely in this case the FBI has a duty of care to launch an investigation. Once looked at there may be clues of where, when and how these pictures were taken.”
He added: “There will now be a forensic examination of the computers and this should ascertain location... If they [the Philippines] require help they can go to specialist departments in Scotland Yard or the FBI.” The FBI are now expected to announce they are investigating after confirming they were aware of the allegations. Meghan's half brother reportedly alerted them in July.
Met Police criticised over 2019 letter
Davies said investigators from the Philippines and the US need to look at both the four boxes of evidence seized from the dad's home, along with a letter sent in 2019 to the Met Police about other allegations against Thomas Markle senior. The Met Police said it passed the information relating to allegations outside the UK to the office of the Duke and Duchess but did not share it with other law enforcement agencies.
The retired officer said the letter, believed to be six pages long, should have been shared by the Met Police with the FBI immediately. He has publicly criticised the Metropolitan Police, describing their failure to act or share the intelligence as "disgraceful" and stating it "beggars belief." He told The Mirror: “Surely the police should have made more inquiries - in my opinion - I hate kicking them but when they deserve a kicking they deserve a kicking!” The Met said it would look at referring itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct watchdog.
The Duchess of Sussex said in a statement she was "deeply distressed at the news" and that her "thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed." She added that the letter had been shared with her, and "made troubling and disturbing allegations" against her father. She said she had broken off contact with her father to protect her children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, who he has never met.
Markle Snr, who is based in the US, denies all such "sick" allegations. He told The Mail on Sunday he paid for sex in the Philippines but denied sleeping with underage girls. He said: “I'm shocked, I'm hurt and I'm very upset that my son is making these accusations against me. I could never do what I'm being accused of. It's the worst thing anyone could accuse me of. This is bulls**t. It's just a bunch of lies. It's sick. I have no idea why Tom is trying to destroy me with these lies.”
