Meghan Markle has released a statement addressing the allegations against her father, Thomas Markle Sr, after the 82-year-old was arrested in Florida on a federal complaint alleging he held images that show child sex abuse, according to the US Department of Justice. He is charged with one count of possessing indecent images of children.
Meghan's statement on the allegations
Responding to the allegations when they were first made public, the Duchess said: "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." She said that when she received the letter outlining allegations against her father, she was "given assurance that these were being investigated".
Meghan added she hoped it could be understood why she had kept her distance from her father and did "not allow him to have contact with our children". This was "to protect them", she said, adding that she had "trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families".
Reaction and impact
She described the allegations as "more sickening than one could ever imagine" and said her "sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children". Thomas Markle Sr has previously denied allegations of possessing images of child sex abuse, calling them "sick lies".
Meghan was set to deliver a keynote speech alongside her husband, Prince Harry, to the EU Parliament on Monday November 10 but pulled out. The Duchess still showed up to support her husband and to listen to other speakers discuss the issue.
Her statement made clear why she has kept her children away from her father, addressing the situation despite being estranged from him. The safety of her own children and others remains her stated priority.
