Meghan Markle says 2018 allegations against her father explain why she cut contact

Meghan Markle, wife of Prince Harry of the United Kingdom, broke her silence on October 23 regarding serious allegations that her 82-year-old father, Thomas Markle Sr., possessed child sexual abuse material. She revealed that a similar complaint was made in 2018, shedding light on her decision to cut off contact with him.

“I am deeply distressed by the news that has come to light over the past 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any child who may have been harmed,” the Duchess of Sussex said in a statement shared with the press, according to The Post and People.

Meghan said that in 2018, the year she married Prince Harry, a letter was sent to London’s Metropolitan Police and Royal and Specialist Protection. The letter was later shared with her and contained what she described as “disturbing and concerning allegations” against her father. She said she was assured that the claims were being investigated, according to LADbible.

The duchess said she hoped the disclosure would help explain that, despite what she described as distorted media coverage over the years, her decision to distance herself from her father and prevent him from having contact with her children was intended to protect them. She did not specify the exact contents of the 2018 letter, who sent it, or whether it was submitted before or after her wedding.

The latest allegations emerged after Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., 60, reportedly alerted authorities after allegedly finding “hundreds, if not thousands” of images in four boxes at their father’s former home in Cebu, Philippines, The Sun previously reported.

According to the newspaper, Thomas Jr. also claimed to have discovered a 15-minute video depicting naked girls on an abandoned mobile phone, along with images stored on hard drives and in old books.

The FBI confirmed it had received Thomas Jr.’s sworn statement and was reportedly preparing its own investigation. In the Philippines, a task force from the Women and Children Protection Center has also been assigned to investigate the case.

“Although the scale of what has now been uncovered is more repugnant than one could imagine, my sincerest hope is that full justice will be served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children,” Meghan concluded.

The allegations remain subject to investigation, and the claims against Thomas Markle Sr. have not been established as proven facts.