Meghan Markle's Father Thomas Investigated in Philippines Over Child Abuse Material Allegations

Thomas Markle Sr., 82, father of the Duchess of Sussex, is under investigation in the Philippines by a child sex abuse task force following allegations that he possessed a large quantity of child sex abuse material. The FBI has also been made aware of the claims and is reportedly considering its own investigation.

Meghan Markle stated that she was first informed of "troubling and disturbing" allegations against her father by the Metropolitan Police in 2018. She expressed that the recent news has left her "deeply distressed" and reiterated that her estrangement from her father and decision not to allow him contact with her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, was made "to protect them."

Thomas Markle Jr., Meghan's half-brother, made the allegations, claiming he discovered child abuse material, including videos of girls as young as 10 or 11, on his father's old cellphones and in storage boxes at his father's home in the Philippines. He stated he found the material in July when looking for a phone for his fiancée. Thomas Jr. reportedly reported his findings to the FBI and the US Center for Abused and Exploited Children, and subsequently to local police in Cebu, Philippines.

The Department of Justice in the Philippines confirmed that its Anti-Trafficking and OSAEC task force is investigating reports involving an American national in his 80s accused of leaving child abuse videos and photos in his home in Cebu province. A source told The Sun that an FBI agent had requested contact details for the investigators in the Philippines, noting that Thomas Markle Sr. is a US citizen living in the US and could be linked to alleged offenses committed on US soil.

Thomas Markle Sr. has denied the accusations, calling them "sick lies" and "bullshit" concocted by his son. He stated he has never downloaded porn onto his computers. Thomas Jr. had previously moved in with his father in Mexico after suffering a stroke, but financial support reportedly stopped in July when a family member found Thomas Jr. had been taking money from his father's account.

Meghan and her father have been estranged since 2018, the year of her wedding to Prince Harry. The estrangement followed reports that Thomas Markle Sr. had staged paparazzi photographs. He did not attend the wedding, and the Duchess of Sussex's mother, Doria Ragland, was the only member of her family present.