Meghan Markle’s estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., has been arrested.
Thomas, 82, was taken into FBI custody in Florida on Friday, November 6, according to the multiple outlets, including the Associated Press and the Daily Mail. The British newspaper reported that he was arrested for possessing child pornography. (Thomas previously denied the accusations.)
Thomas Sr.’s arrest comes weeks after his son, Thomas Markle Jr., told The Sun on October 22 that he allegedly discovered child sex abuse material (CSAM) in boxes at his father’s home and alerted authorities. Both Thomas Sr. and his eldest daughter, Samantha Markle, vehemently denied the accusations.
“I’m shocked, I’m hurt and I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me,” Thomas Sr. told the Daily Mail on October 23. “I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of. This is bulls***. It’s just a bunch of lies. It’s sick. I have no idea why Tom is trying to destroy me with these lies.”
Meghan, 45, who has been estranged from her father since her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, has also broken her silence on the allegations.
“I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed,” the Duchess of Sussex told Us in a statement last month. “In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. That letter was subsequently shared with me. It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated.”
Meghan, who shares two children with her husband, further claimed her distance from Thomas Sr. was a result of the accusations in the letter obtained by police.
“I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications’ distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason: to protect them,” she noted in her statement. “I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families.”
Meghan concluded, “Although the breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine, my sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children.”
The Metropolitan Police have since begun looking into the accusations.
“We are aware of media reports that officers from the Met’s Royalty and Specialist Protection Command were involved in the passing on of a letter in 2018,” a Metropolitan Police spokesperson told Us in a separate statement. “We are undertaking enquiries internally in an effort to confirm this.”
The U.K. officers were not investigating Thomas Sr. himself, as he does not live in England.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
