Duchess of Sussex: Allegations Against Father Date to 2018

Financial and reputational risks are high for public figures when family matters intersect with criminal allegations. The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan, has addressed reports concerning her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., stating she is "deeply distressed" by claims that he possessed child abuse images.

A timeline of the matter begins with events in 2018. Meghan has disclosed that she received a letter that year from London's Metropolitan Police, specifically from its Royalty and Specialist Protection unit, known as Rasp. The correspondence contained troubling allegations regarding her father and assured her that they were under investigation. At the time, sources indicated she could not speak publicly about the matter as it might have jeopardized any future inquiry or exposed her to legal action. The letter was reportedly passed to her shortly after her wedding to Prince Harry.

Recent developments have brought the case into the open. The Sun newspaper reported that the duchess's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., claimed to have located a cache of images belonging to their father at a former residence in Cebu, Philippines. Markle Sr. lived there until he returned to the United States in May following a stroke. Markle Sr. has denied the allegations, telling the Daily Mail the accusations are "sick lies". He stated that he was "shocked" and "hurt" by the reports while speaking from a rehabilitation center in Florida, where he is learning to use a prosthetic limb.

Investigations are underway across multiple jurisdictions. Philippine officials have confirmed a probe is active, with an undersecretary at the justice department stating that a taskforce in Cebu is handling the matter. 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]". Markle Jr. reportedly informed detectives in the Philippines he found "hundreds, if not thousands" of such images on devices. The FBI stated it will support Philippine authorities as appropriate and investigate any related federal violations of US law.

The Metropolitan Police in London has not previously investigated Markle Sr. and is not doing so now, it is understood. The force is making internal inquiries to confirm whether officers were involved in passing on the 2018 letter. Family members have offered conflicting accounts regarding the allegations. Markle Sr. said computers had not been in his possession since he left Mexico in January 2025 to move to the Philippines. His daughter, Samantha Markle, accused Markle Jr. of "making up lies" to make money and noted the devices were out of his possession for a period, stating: "That leaves a lot of room for tampering."

The duchess emphasized her focus on safety in her statement. She said any distance from her father and her decision to keep him away from her children serves 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. The duchess has been estranged from her father since he did not attend her wedding on health grounds, and he has never met his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Further updates are expected as authorities conclude their inquiries.