Meghan Markle Says 2018 Police Letter Warned Her of Claims Against Father

Meghan Markle said she received a letter from the Metropolitan Police in 2018 that raised allegations against her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr, and said she remains "deeply distressed" by claims that he possessed child sexual abuse images. A spokesperson issued the statement after the Sun reported that Markle's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, told detectives he found the material at a former home in Cebu, Philippines.

Markle Jr, 60, said the images were stored on computers and phones kept in four large boxes at the residence. His father lived there until returning to the United States in May after a stroke. Markle Sr has denied the allegations, calling them "sick lies" in an interview with the Daily Mail. The 2018 letter was addressed to the Met and its Royalty and Specialist Protection unit, known as Rasp, and was later shared with Meghan, who said she was told the matters were under investigation. The Met has not previously investigated Markle Sr and is not doing so now, according to people familiar with the matter; the force said it is checking internally whether Rasp officers passed the letter on.

Philippine officials confirmed an investigation is under way. Interior secretary Jonvic Remulla said national police have secured Markle Sr's computer for a full digital forensic examination, which he expected to take "one week to get the forensic [results]". Nicholas Ty, an undersecretary at the justice department, told the BBC that a human trafficking and child sexual exploitation taskforce in Cebu is handling the case. Markle Jr also contacted the FBI, which said it will support Philippine authorities as appropriate and investigate any related allegations of federal violations of US law.

Markle Sr spoke from a rehabilitation centre in Florida, where he is learning to walk with a prosthetic limb after his left leg was amputated because of a blood clot. He told the Mail he was "shocked" and "hurt" and said the computers had not been in his possession since he left Rosarito, Mexico, with his son in January 2025 and moved to the Philippines "for a fresh start". His half-sister, Samantha Markle, defended him and accused Markle Jr of "making up lies" to earn money, adding that the computers were out of his possession for two years: "That leaves a lot of room for tampering."

Meghan said her decision to keep distance from her father and to deny him contact with their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, was made to protect them. "I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families," she said, adding that she hopes justice is fully served. Markle Sr has been estranged from the duchess since he missed her wedding to Prince Harry on health grounds and has never met his grandchildren. Forensic results on the computer are expected within a week of October 23.