Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, said Friday she was “deeply distressed” over accusations that her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., possessed child sexual abuse material, asserting that her long-standing separation from him was aimed at shielding her children.
The allegations surfaced after her half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., reported finding hundreds or thousands of illicit images in boxes at their father’s former residence in the Philippines, according to reports by British newspapers The Sun and the Daily Mail.
Meghan cites 2018 warning
In a public statement released Friday, the 45-year-old duchess said she first learned of disturbing accusations involving her father eight years ago. She said a letter detailing allegations was delivered in 2018 to London’s Metropolitan Police and its Royalty and Specialist Protection team, which was subsequently shared with her.
“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,” Meghan said in the statement, referring to 7-year-old Prince Archie and 5-year-old Princess Lilibet.
The Metropolitan Police told Variety that officials are conducting internal inquiries to review whether officers passed along a letter in 2018. The department is not currently conducting an investigation into Thomas Markle, Variety reported.
Thomas Markle denies accusations
Thomas Markle, an 82-year-old retired television lighting director, forcefully disputed the claims in comments published by the Daily Mail, describing them as “a bunch of lies” and “sick lies.”
“I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of,” he told the publication, adding that he had no idea why his son was leveling the charges against him.
His daughter Samantha Markle also defended him to the Daily Mail, dismissing the claims made by her brother as having no merit.
Foreign inquiry underway
Authorities in the Philippines confirmed that a formal inquiry has been initiated. Nicholas Ty, an undersecretary for the Philippine Department of Justice, confirmed to the BBC that an anti-human trafficking and child sexual exploitation task force is investigating the matter.
Philippine Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla told the BBC that national police have secured Thomas Markle’s computer to carry out a digital forensic analysis.
The elder Markle lived in Cebu, Philippines, starting in 2025 before relocating back to the United States in May after experiencing severe health complications, including a leg amputation, according to Radar Online and NBC News. He is reportedly residing at a Florida rehabilitation facility.
The duchess has maintained an estranged relationship with her father since around the time of her May 2018 wedding to Prince Harry. Markle Sr. did not attend the ceremony following admissions that he had staged photographs for paparazzi and amid subsequent medical issues.
Philippine police and the FBI did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the status of the complaints filed by Thomas Markle Jr.
