The Duchess of Sussex and her family were not in the UK when allegations about her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., were made, according to reports.
Last week, it was reported that Meghan's father was being investigated after his son, Thomas Markle Jr., allegedly found boxes of child sex abuse images at his father's Philippines home. Thomas Markle Jr. reported this to police in the Philippines and to the FBI, and an investigation by police in the Philippines is believed to be underway.
Family away for half-term
Thomas Markle Sr., who has recently been living in a care facility in America after a leg amputation last year, has denied the accusations, branding them "sick lies". While it has been claimed Meghan fled the UK since the allegations, which she described in a statement as "distressing", it now appears she was already out of the country.
Hello! Magazine reports that Meghan and Prince Harry are away from Britain for October half-term with their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five. It is believed to be the first time Archie and Lilibet have left the UK since the family relocated there in August.
Possible destinations and return
It is not known where the family are; however, it is possible they could have returned to America to see Meghan's mother, Doria. The family also has a holiday home in Portugal, which they are believed to enjoy visiting.
Hello! Magazine reported that the family is expected to return to the UK towards the end of the week, in time for the children to return to school after half-term. They have been attending their British school since September and are believed to have settled in well.
Harry on British schooling
This was revealed by Harry in a recent interview with GQ. He said: "Being able to put the kids in a British school has meant a lot to me. I didn't know how important it was to me."
"I always thought it was going to be something that we would try and do, but now they've been in school for two weeks. They're loving it, and it's just giving them a whole different experience. I'm not criticising American schools."
Meghan's statement on allegations
Meghan said in a statement last week that she found accusations against her father "distressing". She also revealed that years ago, she was given a letter by the police that they had received, which contained allegations against her father.
She said she was assured the accusations were being investigated. She also said this letter was the reason she cut off contact with her father and decided never to let him meet Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Meghan's statement last week read: "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 not to 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."
