Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, was informed of "disturbing" allegations concerning her father, Thomas Markle Sr., in the months following her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry. She revealed that a letter detailing these claims was sent to the Metropolitan Police's royal protection team and subsequently shared with her.
According to Markle's statement, authorities assured her that the allegations against her father were under investigation. The letter is believed to have been delivered to the Duchess in the summer of 2018, shortly after her May wedding.
Markle, who has been estranged from her 82-year-old father since the royal wedding, stated that her decision to keep him from meeting her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, was made solely "to protect them." She expressed being "deeply distressed" by the recent news and hoped that justice would be served, prioritizing the safety of children. "I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families," she added.
A source close to the Royal Family commented that the situation is a matter for the Sussex household.
Thomas Markle Sr. has vehemently denied the accusations of possessing child sex images, calling them "sick lies." He spoke to the Daily Mail from a rehabilitation center in Florida, where he is recovering from a leg amputation following a blood clot. He expressed shock and hurt over the allegations made by his son, Thomas Markle Jr., stating, "I could never do what I'm being accused of. It's the worst thing anyone could accuse me of."
Thomas Markle Jr. claimed to have found "hundreds" of child sex images on computers and a cellphone in storage boxes belonging to their father after he moved from Mexico to the Philippines. Thomas Sr. disputes this, asserting the computers had not been in his possession since he left Mexico in January 2025 and moved to the Philippines. He stated the computers were boxed up in Mexico and shipped, and he had not received them from his son when he requested them.
Meghan's half-sister, Samantha Markle, has called her brother's accusations "disgusting lies" and suggested he is making them for financial gain, particularly after their father allegedly stopped providing him with financial support. She also stated that the computers had been out of their father's possession for two years, leaving room for tampering.
Thomas Sr. maintained his innocence, saying he has never downloaded such material and welcomed a forensic examination of the computers. He questioned his son's motives, suggesting he might be seeking money. He also detailed a strained relationship with his son, who he claims had been taking money from his account before financial support ceased in July.
Thomas Jr. reportedly alerted the FBI and the U.S. Center for Abused and Exploited Children before taking the material to police in Cebu, Philippines, where an official probe has been launched.
Thomas Sr. expressed fear and distress, stating, "I'm scared because I don't feel safe any more. People believe accusations, even if they are not true." He is considering legal action but feels defenseless against widespread accusations.
Samantha Markle accused her brother of having a "vendetta" and seeking revenge, noting his past history of allegedly selling false stories about their father for money. She highlighted their father's fragile health and suggested her brother's actions were cruel. She also stated that she could not speak for Meghan but believed Meghan would not have publicly praised their father if she suspected wrongdoing.