Philippines Launches Investigation Into Thomas Markle Over Abuse Material Claims
The Duchess of Sussex confirms she was aware of allegations against her father in 2018 and states that the probe is now active.
By Aiko Soto ·
The Philippines has formally opened an investigation into Thomas Markle, the father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, regarding reports of alleged child sexual abuse materials found in his home. The probe marks a significant escalation in a matter that has surfaced through tabloid reports and family disclosures.
In a statement sent to CBS News on Friday, Meghan said she is "deeply distressed" by the developments. She clarified that she is not learning of these allegations for the first time. According to her remarks, a letter containing "troubling and disturbing" claims was sent to the Metropolitan Police and the Royalty and Specialist Protection command in 2018. She stated that this letter was subsequently shared with her and that she received assurances at the time that the matter was being investigated.
The timeline of the discovery appears to have begun when Thomas Markle Jr., the duchess's brother, reportedly found the materials in storage boxes at the family residence in the Philippines. This occurred while his father was in the United States receiving treatment for a stroke and a blood clot. The younger Markle allegedly first encountered some of the content after switching on an old cell phone at the home. He reportedly contacted the FBI hotline, the National Center for Exploited and Missing Children, and Pennsylvania state police in July before reporting the case to local authorities in the Philippines.
British tabloids The Sun and The Daily Mail broke the news earlier this week. The Sun reported on Thursday that Thomas Markle Jr. had reported his father to Philippine authorities. The Daily Mail followed up on Friday with a statement from Thomas Markle Sr., who denied the claims. He was quoted as saying, "I have never downloaded anything like that in my life," and described the allegations as "sick lies."
The Metropolitan Police in London are currently reviewing its own role in the initial handling of the 2018 report. A spokesperson for the force acknowledged media reports that officers from its Royalty and Specialist Protection Command helped pass on the letter. The department is undertaking internal enquiries to confirm these details. It is understood that the Met has not investigated Thomas Markle directly and is not currently conducting an active investigation into him.
Meghan used her statement to address the long-standing distance between herself and her father. She said she hoped the public could now understand that her choice to limit his contact with their children was made for one specific reason: to protect them. She noted that this decision has often been subject to distortion by media publications over the years.
Philippine state media confirmed the investigation is underway. The state-run Philippine News Agency posted on Facebook that the Department of Justice is looking into reports involving an octogenarian American national who allegedly left child abuse videos and photos in his home in Cebu province. A Filipino justice official confirmed that the department's anti-trafficking task force is handling the matter and identified Thomas Markle Sr. as the subject of the probe.
The duchess expressed her "sincerest hope" that justice will be fully served in this case. She emphasized that the priority must remain the safety and protection of innocent children as the legal process moves forward.
The investigation places the Markle family at the center of a high-profile legal proceeding in Southeast Asia. While the allegations were first brought to the attention of UK authorities nearly a decade ago, the formal probe in the Philippines represents the current stage of the inquiry. The family is now navigating the legal and personal implications of the case as the anti-trafficking task force gathers evidence.
For now, the focus remains on the procedural steps being taken by the Department of Justice. The outcome of the internal review by the Metropolitan Police may also provide further context on how the 2018 letter was processed. As the case develops, both the UK and Philippine authorities are expected to provide additional details on their respective roles in the matter.
