Law enforcement authorities in the Philippines and the United States have launched inquiries following allegations that Thomas Markle Sr., the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, possessed child sexual abuse material, officials and news outlets reported Friday.
Philippine Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty confirmed that a government task force focusing on human trafficking and online child sexual abuse in Cebu is examining the claims, according to Reuters reported by Fox News. The FBI confirmed that it is also monitoring the matter.
“The FBI is aware of the allegations and will provide support, as appropriate, to the Philippine authorities,” the bureau said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “We will also investigate any related allegations of federal violations of U.S. law.”
Allegations brought by son
The international inquiry follows actions taken by Thomas Markle Jr., 60, the Duchess’s half-brother, who told The Sun that he discovered boxes containing suspected illicit photographs and video files while searching through belongings at his father’s Cebu residence. He said he handed the material over to local law enforcement and contacted American federal investigators.
“When I found this material, I was horrified, and I had no option but to report my dad,” Thomas Jr. told The Sun.
Thomas Markle Sr., 82, who is currently living at a Florida rehabilitation facility, vehemently denied the accusations. In an interview with the Daily Mail, the retired television lighting director called the allegations fabricated and “sick lies.”
“I’m shocked, I’m hurt and I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me,” Thomas Sr. told the outlet. “I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of.”
His daughter Samantha Markle, 60, similarly defended her father, telling the Daily Mail that her brother invented the claims in retaliation after his financial assistance from their father was discontinued.
Duchess of Sussex responds
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, addressed the developments in a public statement Friday, expressing deep distress over the situation and offering sympathy to any children who may have experienced harm.
The Duchess also disclosed that British authorities had shared a letter with her in 2018 that was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection detailing allegations against her father. She stated that officials had assured her the matter was under investigation at the time.
Meghan explained that the past allegations influenced her decision to remain estranged from her father and to prevent him from meeting her two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5. Her husband, Prince Harry, has also reportedly never met his father-in-law.
“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 shared with Fox News Digital.
London’s Metropolitan Police stated that it is not investigating Thomas Markle Sr., but the force is conducting an internal inquiry into how it originally handled the 2018 correspondence, according to a report by The Independent cited by Fox News.
Current status
No criminal charges have been filed against Thomas Markle Sr., and officials in the Philippines and the U.S. have not announced any formal findings as the investigation remains in its early stages.
