The Duchess of Sussex says she was informed of allegations against her estranged father, Thomas Markle, in 2018 and was assured they were being investigated. Her comments follow reports that images of child sexual abuse were allegedly found at his former home in the Philippines. Thomas Markle denies possessing any such images.
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has said she was made aware of “disturbing allegations” concerning her estranged father in 2018, the year she married Prince Harry.
In a statement, Meghan said a letter containing allegations against Thomas Markle had been sent to the Metropolitan Police that year and was subsequently shared with her. She said she had been assured that the allegations were being investigated.
Her comments follow reports that images of child sexual abuse were allegedly discovered at her father’s former home in the Philippines. The claims were first reported by The Sun.
Meghan said she was “deeply distressed” by the news and that her thoughts were with any children who may have been harmed.
She also said the allegations helped explain why she had kept her distance from her father and had not allowed him to have contact with her children.
“This was to protect them,” she said, adding that she had trusted the authorities to protect other families as well.
The duchess described the allegations as deeply disturbing and said her hope was that justice would be served, with the safety and protection of children remaining the priority.
Investigation Under Way in the Philippines
Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, told The Sun that he had found images of child abuse at their father’s home in the Philippines and reported them to police.
Nicholas Ty, Undersecretary at the Philippines Department of Justice, told the BBC that the matter was being investigated by an anti-human trafficking and child sexual exploitation task force in Cebu.
Philippines Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla separately told the BBC that national police had secured Thomas Markle Sr’s computer for a comprehensive digital forensic examination.
Investigators are analysing the data to establish the scope of the alleged criminal activity. The minister said the forensic results were expected to take about a week.
The FBI said it was aware of the allegations and would provide support to Philippine authorities where appropriate. It also said it would investigate any related allegations of violations of US federal law.
The Metropolitan Police said it was conducting an internal inquiry to establish whether its royal protection unit had passed the letter to the duchess. It is understood that the force is not currently investigating Meghan’s father.
Thomas Markle, 82, denies possessing any child sexual abuse images. The BBC said it had contacted him and the Metropolitan Police for comment.
Strained Family Relationship
The allegations have drawn renewed attention to the long-standing breakdown in relations between Meghan and her father.
Their relationship deteriorated in the run-up to her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018. Thomas Markle was found to have colluded with photographers by accepting payment to stage photographs of himself preparing for the wedding.
He later withdrew from attending the ceremony, citing health problems. Meghan was instead accompanied down the aisle by King Charles III, who was then the Prince of Wales.
Meghan is the only child of Thomas Markle’s marriage to her mother, Doria Ragland. He also has two children from an earlier marriage: Samantha Markle and Thomas Markle Jr.
In 2025, Thomas Markle moved to the Philippines following a series of strokes. He reportedly later moved to a rehabilitation centre in Florida after having a leg amputated during surgery in December 2025. Meghan sent him a letter while he was in hospital in the Philippines.
Sussexes’ Return to the UK
Meghan’s statement has also prompted questions about whether the allegations played any role in the couple’s return to the UK in August, after six years in the United States.
However, a spokesperson for the Sussexes denied that the allegations were a factor in their decision to leave the US.
Prince Harry and Meghan stepped back from their roles as senior working royals in January 2020 and subsequently moved to the United States, where they no longer carried out official royal duties or received public funds.
Meghan’s latest comments underline the continuing strain in her relationship with her father, while investigations into the allegations remain ongoing. No findings from the reported digital forensic examination had been announced in the information available at the time of publication.
Source: BBC
