Meghan Says She Is Deeply Distressed by Child Abuse Image Claims Against Her Father

The Duchess of Sussex has said she is "deeply distressed" by allegations that her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr, possessed child sexual abuse images. She also revealed that the Metropolitan Police made her aware of "disturbing allegations" against him in 2018.

Meghan issued the statement through a spokesperson after the Sun newspaper reported that her half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, claimed to have found a stash of images belonging to their father at his former home in the Philippines. Markle Sr has denied the claim, telling the Daily Mail the accusations are "sick lies".

In her statement, Meghan said a letter sent in 2018 to the Met and to its Royalty and Specialist Protection unit, known as Rasp, was later shared with her. She said it made troubling allegations against her father and that she was assured they were being investigated. She said any distance from him, and her decision not to let him have contact with her children, had one purpose: to protect them. "I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families," she said, adding that she hopes justice will be fully served and that children's safety remains the priority.

Sources said Meghan could not speak publicly in 2018 because doing so might have jeopardised any future investigation and could have exposed her to legal action. It is understood the Rasp unit passed her the letter shortly after her wedding. The Met has not previously investigated Markle Sr and is not doing so now, it is understood. The force said it is making internal inquiries to confirm whether Rasp officers were involved in passing on the letter.

According to the Sun, Markle Jr, 60, told detectives in the Philippines he found "hundreds, if not thousands" of such images on computers and mobile phones kept in four large boxes at the home in Cebu. Markle Sr lived there until he returned to the US in May after a stroke. Markle Jr also reportedly contacted the FBI, which said it will support the Philippine authorities as appropriate and investigate any related allegations of federal violations of US law.

Philippine officials have confirmed the matter is under investigation. Nicholas Ty, an undersecretary at the justice department, told the BBC that a human trafficking and child sexual exploitation taskforce in Cebu is handling it. 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]".

Speaking 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, Markle Sr said he was "shocked" and "hurt". "I could never do what I'm being accused of," he told the Mail. He 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".

Meghan's half-sister, Samantha Markle, defended their father and accused Markle Jr of "making up lies" to make money. She alleged the claims came days after their father cut off his funds. She also said the computers were out of his possession for two years, saying: "That leaves a lot of room for tampering."

Markle Sr has been estranged from the duchess since he missed her wedding to Prince Harry on health grounds. He has never met his grandchildren, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five.