Meghan Markle did not leave the United Kingdom to escape the fallout from the child pornography investigation involving her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., according to royal sources. Page Six has confirmed that Markle, Prince Harry, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, traveled overseas for the UK’s school half-term break.
"I wouldn’t describe Meghan as having fled the UK following the allegations against her father," royal journalist Andrea Caamano told Page Six. "We know the news broke while she was already out of the country with her family for the October half-term holidays. Some schools have a two-week break in the UK, so the timing appears to be coincidental rather than a deliberate decision to escape the headlines."
Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield echoed this sentiment, stating that schools across Britain are currently on their October half-term break. "Harry and Meghan may simply be taking advantage of the school holiday to spend time with their children while allowing some of the controversy to settle," Schofield said.
Insiders believe the family's getaway is not expected to be prolonged. "I wouldn’t be surprised if their retreat from the spotlight lasts about as long as the children’s half-term holiday," Schofield added.
Caamano, co-host of Hello!’s “A Right Royal Podcast,” anticipates the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will return to the UK by the end of the week, in time for their children to resume school. "I don’t anticipate this becoming a prolonged retreat from public life," Caamano said. "Meghan has been incredibly busy with her latest As Ever launches, particularly the new holiday collection, and I fully expect her to continue promoting her business. As we say here in Britain, it’s very much a case of ‘keep calm and carry on.'"
Sources suggest their departure is more of a well-timed break from negative headlines. "I don’t believe the Sussexes have any intention of abandoning their ambitions in Britain," Schofield stated. "This may be less of a strategic retreat and more of a convenient opportunity to let the headlines cool down."
Caamano noted that being away during this "distressing" time has "no doubt been a small blessing in disguise." A friend close to Markle told Hello! magazine that the Duchess is "incredibly upset" but is receiving support from those closest to her. "Many friends, both in the UK and abroad, have been reaching out to offer their support."
The couple is reportedly protecting their mental health by staying off social media. "Prince Harry told us himself last month that he is not on social media, and neither is Meghan, despite her having two Instagram accounts," Caamano said. "They have people who help manage and publish content on their behalf, allowing them to take a step back from social media for the sake of their mental health."
Meghan, 45, and Harry, 42, left the UK shortly after news emerged that Thomas Sr. was being investigated for allegedly possessing a large collection of child pornography. The accusations were reportedly made by Meghan's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., who claimed to have found disturbing images and videos in their father’s belongings at his home in the Philippines.
Thomas Markle Sr. has denied the allegations, calling them "sick lies." His other daughter, Samantha Markle, has defended their father and accused Thomas Jr. of fabricating the claims.
Meghan, who has been estranged from her father since 2018, described the accusations as "deeply distressing." She acknowledged being aware of the claims for years and stated, "I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families."