Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, said she was deeply distressed by reports that her father, Thomas Markle, is under investigation by authorities in the Philippines over alleged possession of child abuse materials. In a statement issued Friday, Meghan revealed she had been aware of troubling allegations against her father since 2018 and that those claims had been shared with British authorities at the time.
In her statement, Meghan explained that a letter outlining troubling and disturbing allegations was sent in 2018 to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. She noted that she was given assurances at the time that the matter was being investigated. London’s Metropolitan Police have been approached for comment regarding the Duchess’s statement.
Meghan stated that her estrangement from her father and her decision to keep him away from her children were strictly measures of protection. She recently relocated back to Britain with her husband, Prince Harry, and their children. She hopes her statement clarifies the reasons behind the family distance despite years of media distortion.
The investigation came to light after reports surfaced that Thomas Markle Jr. had notified authorities in the Philippines after allegedly discovering child abuse materials inside storage boxes at his father’s residence in Cebu province. Philippine state media confirmed Friday that an inquiry is underway.
The Department of Justice stated that its anti-trafficking task force is investigating reports concerning an octogenarian American national who allegedly left child abuse videos and photos in his Cebu province home. A Filipino justice official confirmed that Thomas Markle Sr. is the specific subject of the active inquiry.
Thomas Markle has denied the accusations against him. In comments reported by the press, he stated that he had never downloaded anything of the sort in his life.
Concluding her statement, Meghan expressed her hope that justice would be fully served and emphasized that the safety and protection of innocent children must remain the primary priority.
