Meghan Markle says she is “deeply distressed” after learning her father is reportedly under investigation tied to allegations involving child sexual abuse material.
Quick Take
- Meghan Markle issued a public statement saying she is distressed and worried about any children who may have been harmed.
- Philippine authorities are reportedly investigating Thomas Markle Sr. following claims first raised by his son, Thomas Markle Jr.
- London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed it received a letter in January 2019 describing alleged offending outside the United Kingdom.
- The letter was passed to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex but never shared with other law enforcement agencies.
Meghan Markle Responds To Allegations Against Her Father
Meghan Markle released a statement after news broke about an investigation into her father. “I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed,” she said. The statement focuses on possible victims, not on defending or condemning her father directly.
ABC News reported that Philippine authorities are looking into allegations that Thomas Markle Sr. possessed child sexual abuse material. The reported investigation followed claims made by his own son, Thomas Markle Jr. The family relationship behind the accusation adds a painful layer to an already public and strained family history.
Thomas Markle Sr. has long been a divisive figure in coverage of the British royal family. His estrangement from Meghan dates back years, marked by public spats, paid interviews, and conflicting accounts of their relationship. This new allegation places him back in the spotlight, this time over claims with far more serious legal weight than past family drama.
Scotland Yard Confirms It Received A Letter In 2019
London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed it has records tied to this matter. The force said a review of its systems “confirmed that in January 2019, we received a letter containing several claims about alleged offending outside the United Kingdom”. That confirmation establishes the allegations reached police well before this week’s headlines.
The Met said it reviewed the letter internally and then forwarded it. They decided “it should be passed to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their awareness”. That detail gives an official basis for how Meghan may have first learned her father faced these claims, separate from any family phone call or tabloid report.
Why The Claims Never Reached Other Investigators
Perhaps the most striking admission from police is what did not happen next. The Met acknowledged that “the details of the allegations in the letter were not shared with other law enforcement agencies”. That gap means a six-year-old letter sat largely unexamined by outside investigators until this week’s reports surfaced publicly.
That silence raises fair questions about how the United Kingdom handles serious claims that cross international borders. If allegations about alleged offending abroad stop at one desk instead of reaching Philippine or other authorities right away, victims could wait years for any real follow-up. Taxpayers and families deserve better coordination than a letter quietly filed away.
Separate reporting adds a wrinkle on timing. One account describes Meghan referencing a letter sent in 2018, a year before the Met says its own letter arrived. The difference may simply reflect two separate pieces of correspondence, but it has not been clarified publicly.
13/13
In October 2026, Meghan's father, Thomas Markle, faced an investigation over alleged child sexual abuse images, which he denied. Meghan said she was deeply distressed and had kept her children away from him for protection.
What do you think lies ahead for Meghan? pic.twitter.com/3SFp9DD328
— FirstCuriosity (@FirstCuriosity) October 28, 2026
What Happens Next For The Markle Family
The Met has said it is reviewing whether its own handling of the 2019 letter should face outside scrutiny, a step that could bring the Independent Office for Police Conduct into the matter. For Meghan, her statement stayed narrow and victim-centered rather than legal or political, keeping the spotlight on accountability instead of family feuding.
Thomas Markle Sr. has not been convicted of any crime, and any investigation remains an allegation, not a finding of guilt. Still, the confirmed existence of a 2019 police letter, paired with Meghan’s own public distress, means this story carries real institutional weight, not just family gossip playing out in the tabloids.
Sources:
abcnews.com, people.com, the-gazette.co.uk, independent.co.uk, bbc.co.uk
