Meghan 'Deeply Distressed' as Philippine Police Open Probe Into Claim Against Her Father

Meghan 'Deeply Distressed' as Philippine Police Open Probe Into Claim Against Her Father

Son's Report, Broken by a British Tabloid, Sets Off the Case

Late on October 22, Britain's Sun newspaper reported that Thomas Markle Jr., 60, the half-brother of the Duchess of Sussex, said he had found what he described as a large collection of suspected child sexual abuse images at the Philippines home of his father, Thomas Markle Sr., and had reported the discovery to police there. According to CNN's account of the Sun report, the younger Markle described the material as numbering in the "hundreds, if not thousands," and said he had also contacted the FBI. Page Six, citing the same reporting, said the images were described as depicting girls as young as 10 to 11. None of this has been proven; it is an allegation under investigation, not a finding.

Meghan's Statement Reveals She Was Told of Allegations in 2018

On October 23, Meghan said in a statement that she was "deeply distressed" by what had come to light in the previous 24 hours, adding that her thoughts were with any children who might have been harmed. She disclosed that back in 2018 she had been shown a letter sent to Scotland Yard containing what she called "disturbing allegations" about her father, and had been told the matter was being investigated. "My sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children," she wrote, in wording quoted by Variety and People. Outlets noted it was her most extensive public comment on her father to date.

Two Countries Confirm Inquiries as 82-Year-Old Father Denies Everything

Philippine Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty told Reuters on October 23 that the anti-trafficking and anti-online-sexual-abuse-and-exploitation-of-children task force in Cebu was investigating the matter. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed to Reuters that it was Markle's son who had supplied police with evidence, including a laptop. The FBI said it was aware of the allegations, would support Philippine authorities as appropriate, and would examine any possible violations of US federal law, according to GMA Network's account of the Reuters reporting. Thomas Markle Sr., 82, told the Daily Mail the accusations were "sick lies," saying: "I could never do what I'm being accused of. It's the worst thing anyone could accuse me of."

Sister Calls the Claims Lies and Questions Her Brother's Motives

The family's accounts are now in open conflict. Samantha Markle, Meghan's half-sister, defended her father to the Daily Mail, calling the allegations baseless and accusing her brother of acting out of revenge. She said the computers at issue had been out of her father's possession for two years, leaving what she called ample room for tampering, and stressed there was no proof he had downloaded anything. Her partner echoed that position to Page Six. Meghan, for her part, kept her statement focused on the investigation and on child protection rather than on the sibling dispute.

What Comes Next Sits With Investigators in Cebu and the US

The next steps belong to the investigators: the Cebu task force's findings, and the FBI's assessment of any federal angle. The Daily Mail reported that Thomas Jr. had already submitted reports to the FBI hotline, the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and Pennsylvania state police on July 10. Meghan wrote that her years-long distance from her father, and her decision to keep him from contact with her children, had "one reason: to protect them." Whether the inquiries lead to charges, and whether more family members speak out, remains to be seen.