Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has expressed distress and a sense of relief after authorities launched an investigation into her estranged father following accusations that he possessed child sexual abuse material, according to media reports.
Police in Cebu City, Philippines, opened an inquiry after Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., 60, reported finding disturbing material in storage containers at the home of their father, Thomas Markle Sr., 82. Thomas Jr. stated he turned four boxes over to local authorities and alerted the FBI, claiming the containers held hundreds or thousands of illicit images, Page Six and the New York Post reported.
Meghan Explains Family Estrangement
In a public statement issued Friday, Meghan, 45, said she was deeply distressed by the latest allegations. She also disclosed that past warnings regarding her father prompted her decision to bar him from contacting her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
“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 quoted by Radar Online and the New York Post.
A close acquaintance speaking with Meghan’s approval told The Sun that the duchess had harbored severe concerns for years while remaining silent under legal advice. The person told the outlet that Meghan, as a mother, was devastated by the accusations and felt relief that law enforcement is finally investigating the matter thoroughly.
History of Past Warnings
The latest investigation brought renewed scrutiny to warnings sent to British authorities years ago. London’s Metropolitan Police verified Saturday, Oct. 24, that a letter outlining allegations against Thomas Sr. had been transferred to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in January 2019, Page Six and Radar Online reported.
While representatives for Meghan initially believed the document arrived in 2018, her spokesperson clarified to The Sun that she had misremembered the exact date. The document reportedly originated from Roslyn Loveless, Thomas Sr.’s former wife, who had previously criticized his parenting and warned Meghan publicly against keeping him in her family’s life.
Thomas Markle Sr. Strongly Denies Claims
Thomas Sr., a retired television lighting director, forcefully rejected the allegations during an interview with the Daily Mail, characterizing the accusations brought by his son as baseless fabrications.
“I’m shocked, I’m hurt and I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me,” Thomas Sr. told the Daily Mail. “I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of.”
Samantha Markle, Meghan’s half-sister, also defended their father, telling outlets that Thomas Jr. made up the claims for financial motives, according to the New York Post.
Thomas Jr. countered his father’s statements in comments to The Sun, describing the denial as unbelievable and calling on forensic specialists to examine the submitted materials. Authorities in the Philippines have not announced formal charges as the examination of the evidence remains ongoing.
