The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, addressed her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., concerning allegations of child sexual abuse. This confrontation took place about a year ago, six years after Meghan first became aware of the claims. The new information comes from CBS News’ British partner, BBC News.
Recently, police in the Philippines began an investigation into Thomas Markle Sr. He faces allegations of possessing a large amount of child sexual abuse photos and videos. This evidence was surrendered to authorities by his son, Thomas Markle Jr.
In a recent statement, Meghan expressed her deep distress regarding the investigation against her father. She revealed that she first learned of these allegations in 2018 from a letter shared by London’s Metropolitan Police. Based on this information, Meghan and her husband Prince Harry decided to cut off contact between Thomas and their children.
A video shared by the tabloid Daily Mail shows Thomas Markle receiving a letter from his daughter while in a U.S. hospital room in December 2025. According to the BBC, the letter stated that Meghan and authorities were aware of his abuse of young girls. It also declared that Thomas would never meet her children, Archie and Lilibet.
Thomas Markle Sr., now 82, reportedly claimed not to recall the letter’s content but acknowledged that Meghan’s version might be correct. He consistently denied downloading or possessing anything related to child sexual abuse, labeling the accusations as “sick lies.” Additionally, Thomas admitted to paying for sex in the Philippines but maintained he never engaged in activities with anyone under 18, assuring cooperation with authorities.
The Sun reported that the Metropolitan Police were alerted in 2019 about several claims against Thomas Markle, including alleged child sexual abuse, and informed the Duchess of Sussex’s office. Meghan mentioned that due to these allegations, she kept her family at a distance.
“In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. When it was shared with me, it contained troubling allegations against my father, and I was assured of an investigation,” Meghan stated.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed last week that inquiries are ongoing to verify details internally. However, no current investigation targets Thomas Markle.
The specifics of the allegations in the 2018 letter or those referenced when Meghan wrote to her father last year remain unclear.
CBS News contributor Roya Nikkhah from the Sunday Times suggested that the public might respond sympathetically toward Meghan amid these revelations. She emphasized that while public opinion has largely focused on her and Prince Harry’s exit from royal duties, this situation regarding her father is distinct.
Nikkhah remarked, “The public might sympathize with Meghan over her father’s situation. This incident is separate from issues they faced with the royal family.”
While Meghan and Prince Harry have since returned to the public eye, whether these developments change perceptions remains uncertain.