Meghan Markle Reveals 2018 Warning as Philippines Probes Father
The Duchess of Sussex says she was told about allegations against Thomas Markle six years ago, while Philippine authorities confirmed a formal investigation into his possession of child abuse materials.
By Pavel Bell ·
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stated on Friday that she is deeply distressed by reports that her father is under investigation in the Philippines. The probe centers on alleged possession of child sexual abuse materials. Her statement, sent to CBS News, confirms she has been aware of the issues for years.
The duchess explained that a letter containing troubling allegations was sent to the Metropolitan Police and its Royalty and Specialist Protection unit in 2018. She noted that the letter was subsequently shared with her and that she was given assurances the matter was being investigated. A spokesperson for the Met said the force is conducting internal enquiries to confirm the timeline of that correspondence, adding that the department is not currently investigating Thomas Markle.
Philippine state media confirmed on Friday that the Department of Justice is looking into the case. The agency reported that the probe involves an octogenarian American national who allegedly left videos and photos in his home in Cebu province. A Filipino justice official stated that the department's anti-trafficking task force is handling the matter and identified Thomas Markle Sr. as the subject of the inquiry.
The investigation followed reports by The Sun that Thomas Markle Jr. alerted authorities to the materials. The younger Markle allegedly found the files in storage boxes at the family home while his father was in the United States receiving treatment for a stroke and blood clot. He reportedly discovered the materials on an old cell phone and later contacted the FBI hotline, the National Center for Exploited and Missing Children, and Pennsylvania state police in July.
Thomas Markle Sr. denied the claims in a report by The Daily Mail. He stated he had never downloaded such materials and called the accusations sick lies. Meghan Markle used her statement to address the distance between herself and her father. She said she limited his contact with her children to protect them, hoping the public would understand this decision was for one specific reason.
The duchess expressed her hope that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety of innocent children. The Philippine Department of Justice has not announced a next step in the timeline, but the anti-trafficking task force is actively reviewing the evidence gathered in Cebu.
Source: CBS News
