The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Saturday that they received a letter in 2019 containing allegations against Thomas Markle, the father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. While police passed the letter to the Duke and Duchess’s office, the department stated the details were not shared with other law enforcement agencies at the time. The disclosure follows reports that authorities in the Philippines are investigating Markle for alleged possession of child sexual abuse materials.
Thomas Markle has denied all accusations, describing them as "sick lies" and "bullshit." The investigation in the Philippines was reportedly initiated by his son, Thomas Markle Jr., who discovered a stash of images in storage boxes at his father’s former home in Cebu. Markle Sr. stated he has not possessed the computers in question since moving from Mexico to the Philippines in January 2025 and suggested the items could have been tampered with.
In a statement released Friday, the Duchess of Sussex said she was "deeply distressed" by the reports and had been aware of "disturbing allegations" since 2018. She stated that her decision to distance herself from her father was made to protect her children. A spokesperson for the Duchess addressed the discrepancy between her 2018 timeline and the police's 2019 date, attributing it to the passage of time. Scotland Yard is now reviewing its handling of the matter to determine if a referral to the police watchdog is necessary.
The investigation involves Thomas Markle, a U.S. citizen and father of the Duchess of Sussex, and focuses on allegations of possessing child sexual abuse materials. According to Philippine Justice Department Undersecretary Nicholas Ty, the case is being handled by a human trafficking and child sexual exploitation task force in Cebu. The FBI has also stated it is aware of the claims and will provide support to Philippine authorities while investigating any potential violations of U.S. federal law.
The scale of the evidence under review involves "hundreds, if not thousands" of images allegedly found on computers and mobile phones, according to claims made by Thomas Markle Jr. The Philippine national police have secured the computer equipment and expect to complete a digital forensic examination within one week.
The situation has caused a public rift within the Markle family, with Samantha Markle defending her father and accusing Thomas Markle Jr. of fabricating stories for financial gain. The Metropolitan Police's internal inquiry into the 2019 allegations follows its disclosure that the letter was not shared with other agencies. A forensic report from Philippine authorities is expected within a week.