U.K. police are speaking out after Meghan Markle’s estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., was allegedly found in possession of photographic material depicting child sex abuse.
“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 statement on Friday, October 23. “We are undertaking enquiries internally in an effort to confirm this.”
The Met Police are not currently investigating Thomas, 84, as he does not reside in the U.K.
News broke on Thursday, October 22, that Meghan’s estranged father is under investigation by local authorities after his son, Thomas Markle Jr., allegedly discovered a cache of child sex abuse material (CSAM) in boxes at Thomas Sr.’s house in the Philippines, where he lived until early 2025.
“When I found this material, I was horrified and I had no option but to report my dad,” Thomas Jr. told The Sun. “I have supported, cared for him and helped him for years — but that stops now. I won’t speak to my father ever again unless I’m called to give evidence against him.”
Thomas Jr. — who has been reportedly acting as his father’s primary caregiver after he suffered a stroke in 2022 — revealed that he turned over the materials to the local authorities and contacted the FBI. (Thomas Sr. shares Meghan, 45, with his second wife, Doria Ragland, whom he divorced in 1987. He shares daughter Samantha Markle and son Thomas Jr., 60, with his first wife, Roslyn Loveless.)
Thomas Sr., who has denied the allegations, has not yet been arrested in either the Philippines or the United States. He is reportedly living at a nursing home in Florida.
“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 Friday. “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’s half-sister, Samantha, 61, backed her father, in a separate statement. “There is no merit in these disgusting allegations whatsoever and my brother is disgusting for making them up,” she told the Daily Mail. “He wants to destroy our dad. Shame on him.”
The Duchess of Sussex, meanwhile, broke her silence on the scandal in a statement shared with Us on Friday, noting, “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.”
Meghan explained, “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.”
The former actress, who shares two children with husband Prince Harry, added, “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. 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.”
Meghan has been estranged from her father for several years, dating back to her and Harry’s May 2018 nuptials, which he didn’t attend after being accused of posing for staged paparazzi photos. Thomas Sr. has never met the couple’s son, Prince Archie, 7, or daughter Princess Lilibet, 5.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
