Meghan Markle 'Deeply Distressed' Over Father's Investigation — Says She Knew of Claims Since 2018
Meghan Markle has released a statement saying she is "deeply distressed" after reports that her estranged father, Thomas Markle, 82, is being investigated in the Philippines over alleged possession of child sexual abuse material — revealing that she was told of "troubling and disturbing" allegations against him as far back as 2018, Reuters and People reported.
The investigation in the Philippines
Philippine justice undersecretary Nicholas Ty told Reuters that the anti-trafficking and anti-OSAEC taskforce in Cebu is currently investigating the matter. The Sun first reported on Friday that Meghan's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., claimed to have discovered the material at his father's home in Cebu, in the Philippines, and reported it to police and the FBI.
Thomas Markle has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them "sick lies," according to the Daily Mail as reported by Reuters.
Her statement
"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, 45, said in a statement shared with the outlets.
"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," she continued.
"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."
Why she cut contact
The statement offers the clearest explanation yet for an estrangement that has played out in public for eight years. Meghan has been out of contact with her father since the run-up to her royal wedding to Prince Harry in 2018, which he did not attend. She shares two children with Prince Harry — Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5 — whom her father has never met, People reported.
A source familiar with the situation told People that at the time the 2018 allegations surfaced, they had not been substantiated, and Meghan was advised that speaking publicly about them could jeopardise any potential investigation.
What the police say
A spokesperson for London's Metropolitan Police told The Times they were aware of media reports that officers from the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command were involved in passing on the 2018 letter, and that the force was making internal enquiries to confirm it. The Times reported it is understood the force has not investigated Markle in the past or currently.
The duchess closed her statement with a call for due process: "My sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children."
Sources: Reuters; The Sun; People; Entertainment Weekly; The Times; New York Post.