Meghan Markle has said a letter detailing "troubling and disturbing" allegations about her estranged father was shared with her in 2018. In a statement on Friday, the Duchess of Sussex said a letter containing allegations against Thomas Markle was sent to the Metropolitan Police that year and subsequently shared with her. It is understood that she received the letter in the summer of 2018, after her wedding to Prince Harry.
Statement on Allegations
Meghan issued the statement after The Sun newspaper reported that her half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., had found a hoard of child sex abuse images at their father's former home in the Philippines. Mr Markle, who is based in the US, denies possessing any such images.
Replying to the allegations, the Duchess said in a statement: "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.
"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. 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."
Father's Denial and Family Background
Meghan became estranged from her former TV lighting director father in the run-up to her 2018 royal wedding after he was caught staging paparazzi photographs. Mr Markle did not attend the wedding, leaving the King to walk Meghan down the aisle and meaning the only member of her family present was her mother Doria Ragland.
The Duchess was the only child of Mr Markle's marriage to Ms Ragland, though he has two children – Samantha Markle and Thomas Jr – from an earlier marriage. They divorced in 1987, when Meghan was six.
Meghan's father said allegations made by his son, Tom Jr, that he downloaded a huge stash of child sex abuse images onto computers and cellphones "is bulls***". Speaking to the Daily Mail from a rehab centre in Florida, Mr Markle Snr 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****. It's just a bunch of lies. It's sick. I have no idea why Tom is trying to destroy me with these lies."
Allegations and Investigation
Mr Markle's son told police that he discovered "hundreds, if not thousands" of child sex abuse images in four large boxes at his father's home in the city of Cebu, the newspaper reports. Mr Markle Jr claims he found the stash amongst family keepsakes.
Police in the Philippines are reportedly preparing to seize the evidence and the FBI is said to be looking into opening an investigation in the US, where Meghan's father, 82, resided after having a leg amputation last year. No statement from either force has yet been given.
Mr Markle Jr, 60, told the newspaper he has submitted a sworn statement to child abuse police in the Philippines, and told the publication: "When I found this material I was horrified and I had no option but to report my dad. I have supported, cared for him and helped him for years – but that stops now. I won't speak to my father ever again unless I'm called to give evidence against him."
Meghan's half-brother, who has been his father's carer since he suffered a life-threatening stroke in 2022, told friends he had been left a "shaking wreck" by the discovery. He is said to have reported the photographs to the FBI Hotline, the US-based National Centre for Exploited and Missing Children, in July, as well as to the state police in Pennsylvania, where his father was living.
In his memoir, Spare, The Duke of Sussex said his wife was "mourning" the loss of her father. Meghan remains close with her mother, Doria Ragland, who divorced Mr Markle Sr in 1987 - when the Duchess was six.
Mr Markle Snr has made several TV appearances over the years, discussing Meghan and his desire to meet her husband and grandchildren. He has also said he is keen to repair the relationship. The 81-year-old has struggled with poor health in recent years, suffering two heart attacks on the eve of Meghan's wedding, and in December last year, his left leg was amputated below the knee during surgery to remove a blood clot. At the time, a spokesperson for the Duchess said she had attempted to contact her father.
