Meghan Says She Was Informed of Disturbing Allegations Against Father in 2018

The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has revealed that she was informed about disturbing allegations against her estranged father, Thomas Markle, in 2018, the year she married Prince Harry.

In a statement, Meghan said a letter containing allegations against her father had been sent to the Metropolitan Police in 2018 and was subsequently shared with her.

Her comments follow reports that images of child sexual abuse allegedly belonging to Thomas Markle were found at his former home in the Philippines. Thomas Markle, 82, denies possessing any such images.

Expressing her distress over the reports, Meghan said her thoughts were with any children who might have been harmed. She described the allegations as deeply disturbing and expressed hope that justice would be served and the safety of children prioritised.

Meghan explained that when she received the letter outlining the allegations, she was assured that the matter was being investigated by the relevant authorities.

She said this assurance influenced her decision to maintain distance from her father. She also explained that she had not allowed him to have contact with her children because she wanted to protect them.

The duchess added that she had trusted the authorities to take appropriate steps to protect other families as well.

The allegations were first reported by The Sun newspaper. Meghan’s statement has brought renewed attention to the longstanding breakdown in her relationship with her father.

Thomas Markle Jr, Meghan’s half-brother, told The Sun that he had discovered images of child sexual abuse at their father’s home in the Philippines and reported the matter to the police.

Philippine authorities have confirmed that an investigation is under way. Nicholas Ty, Undersecretary at the Philippines Department of Justice, told the BBC that an anti-human trafficking and child sexual exploitation task force in Cebu was investigating the matter.

Philippines Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla separately told the BBC that national police had secured Thomas Markle Snr’s computer for a comprehensive digital forensic examination.

Investigators are analysing the data to establish the scope of the alleged offences. Remulla said the forensic results were expected to take approximately one week.

The BBC has contacted Thomas Markle Snr and the Metropolitan Police for comment. The allegations remain subject to investigation, and Thomas Markle denies possessing the images.

Meghan’s statement has also renewed questions about the circumstances surrounding her estrangement from her father and his absence from her family life.

The duchess reportedly first learnt about the allegations after her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018. Sources close to the Sussexes said she had been unable to speak publicly about the matter at the time because of concerns that doing so could jeopardise an investigation.

The relationship between Meghan and her father had already deteriorated in the run-up to her wedding. Thomas Markle was found to have colluded with photographers by accepting payment to stage photographs of himself preparing for the occasion.

The controversy led to a public fallout, and he eventually withdrew from attending the wedding, citing health problems. Meghan was instead accompanied down the aisle by King Charles III, who was then the Prince of Wales.

Meghan is the only child of Thomas Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland. Thomas Markle has two other children, Samantha and Thomas Markle Jr, from an earlier marriage.

In 2025, Thomas Markle moved to the Philippines following a series of strokes. He reportedly later returned to a rehabilitation centre in Florida, where he has been learning to walk again after having a leg amputated during surgery in December 2025.

Meghan also sent a letter to her estranged father while he was in hospital in the Philippines following the procedure.

The latest allegations add another development to the family’s strained relationship. However, the investigation remains ongoing, and the authorities’ findings will be crucial in determining the facts of the case.