Duchess of Sussex 'Deeply Distressed' by Child Abuse Image Claims Against Estranged Father

The Duchess of Sussex has said she is "deeply distressed" by allegations that her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr, possessed child sexual abuse images, and has disclosed that the Metropolitan police made her aware of "disturbing allegations" about him back in 2018. Her statement, issued through a spokesperson, followed a report in the Sun that her half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, claims to have found a stash of such images belonging to their father at his former home in the Philippines.

According to the Sun, Markle Jr, 60, told detectives in the Philippines that he found "hundreds, if not thousands" of images on computers and mobile phones kept in four large boxes at the house in Cebu. Markle Sr lived there until May, when he returned to the US after a stroke. Markle Jr also told the Sun he had contacted the FBI.

Markle Sr denies it. Speaking to the Daily Mail from a rehabilitation centre in Florida, where he is learning to walk with a prosthetic after his left leg was amputated because of a blood clot, he called the accusations "sick lies" and said he was shocked and hurt. He said the computers had not been in his possession since January 2025, when he left Rosarito, Mexico, with his son and moved to the Philippines "for a fresh start". He said he had no idea why his son was trying to destroy him.

Meghan's account reaches back further. She said a letter was sent in 2018 to the Metropolitan police and to Royalty and Specialist Protection, known as Rasp, and was then shared with her. It made what she called troubling and disturbing allegations against her father, and she was given assurances they were being investigated. It is understood she was told in the summer, shortly after her wedding, and that the letter was passed on by the Rasp unit within the Met.

Sources said she could not speak publicly at the time, both to avoid jeopardising any future investigation and because speaking out might have exposed her to legal action. In her statement she said that, despite distortion by certain media over the years, any distance from her father and her decision not to let him have contact with her children was "for one reason: to protect them". Markle Sr has been estranged from her since he did not attend her wedding to Prince Harry, citing health reasons, and he has never met Prince Archie, seven, or Princess Lilibet, five. She said what has now emerged is "more sickening than one could ever imagine" and hoped justice would be served, with the safety of children the priority.

The Met's position is more guarded. It is understood the force has not previously investigated Markle Sr and is not doing so now. A spokesperson said it was aware of reports that Rasp officers were involved in passing on a letter in 2018 and was making internal inquiries to confirm this.

In the Philippines, Nicholas Ty, undersecretary at the justice department, told the BBC that a human trafficking and child sexual exploitation taskforce in Cebu is investigating. Interior secretary Jonvic Remulla said national police have secured Markle Sr's computer for a full digital forensic examination, and that results would take "one week". The FBI said it is aware of the allegations, will support Philippine authorities as appropriate, and will investigate any related allegations of federal violations of US law.

Meghan's half-sister, Samantha Markle, has defended their father. She told the Mail the allegations have no merit and accused her brother of lying for money, claiming he spoke up days after their father cut off his funds. She also said the computers were out of her father's possession for two years, which she said left "a lot of room for tampering". No charges have been made, and the allegations remain unproven. The forensic results from Cebu, expected within about a week, and the Met's internal inquiry are the next things to watch.