Meghan Markle confirms she knew of father's alleged abuse material years before probe
The Duchess of Sussex stated that she was made aware of the serious accusations against Thomas Markle back in 2018, long before the Philippines began its formal inquiry.
By Elijah Fitzgerald ·
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, revealed on Friday that she has been aware of the serious allegations against her father since 2018. The duchess stated that the claims regarding Thomas Markle’s possession of child sexual abuse materials were communicated to her more than seven years before the current investigation gained public attention. Her statement, sent to CBS News, clarified the timeline of when the family first received notice of the troubling claims.
The duchess explained that a letter containing the disturbing allegations was sent to the Metropolitan Police and its Royalty and Specialist Protection unit in 2018. She noted that she received a copy of this letter and was given assurances that the matter was under investigation at the time. However, it is now understood that the Metropolitan Police has not conducted a formal investigation into Thomas Markle and is not currently doing so. A spokesperson for the Met confirmed the force is aware of media reports that officers helped pass on the letter in 2018 and are undertaking internal enquiries to confirm the details.
In her statement, Meghan addressed her long-standing estrangement from her father. She asserted that her decision to limit contact was made solely to protect her children. The duchess said she hoped the public would understand that any distance between her and her father, including her choice not to allow him access to their kids, was driven by one primary goal. She emphasized that this decision was not distorted by years of media coverage but was a deliberate act of protection.
The current legal scrutiny stems from reports by the British tabloid The Sun on Thursday. The publication claimed that Thomas Markle Jr. reported his father to Philippine authorities after finding child abuse materials in storage boxes at their family home. Markle Jr. discovered the materials while his father was in the United States receiving treatment for a stroke and a blood clot. He reportedly first saw some of the content after switching on an old cell phone at the residence.
Thomas Markle Jr. is said to have initially reported the findings in July to an FBI hotline, the National Center for Exploited and Missing Children, and state police in Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, Thomas Markle Sr. has denied the allegations. He was quoted by the Daily Mail on Friday as saying he has never downloaded such material in his life. He dismissed the claims as sick lies.
Philippine state media confirmed on Friday that a formal investigation is underway. The state-run Philippine News Agency posted on Facebook that the Department of Justice is looking into reports involving an octogenarian American national. The agency stated that the department’s anti-trafficking task force is handling the matter and confirmed that Thomas Markle Sr. is the subject of the probe. The investigation focuses on alleged child abuse videos and photos left in a home in Cebu province.
Concluding her statement, Meghan expressed her sincerest hope that justice will be fully served. She stressed that the priority must remain the safety and protection of innocent children in the midst of these ongoing legal proceedings.
