Markle Sr faces seven-day digital probe as Duchess cites 2018 police warning

The Duchess of Sussex stated she is deeply distressed by claims that her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr, possessed child sexual abuse images. She revealed that the Metropolitan Police informed her of these disturbing allegations in 2018, a fact previously unknown to the public. This disclosure follows reports that Markle Sr’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, told investigators he found the images on devices left at a home in the Philippines.

Markle Jr, 60, stated that he discovered hundreds, if not thousands, of images on computers and mobile phones stored in four boxes at the Cebu residence. Markle Sr lived in that location until returning to the United States in May following a stroke. The FBI has said it will support Philippine authorities and investigate any federal violations of US law related to the matter.

Philippine officials confirmed the case is under active investigation. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla stated that national police have secured Markle Sr’s computer for a full digital forensic examination. He expected the process to take one week to yield results. Nicholas Ty, an undersecretary at the justice department, told the BBC that a human trafficking and child sexual exploitation taskforce in Cebu is handling the case.

Meghan’s spokesperson issued the statement after The Sun newspaper reported the claims by Markle Jr. Meghan said a letter sent in 2018 to the Met and its Royalty and Specialist Protection unit, known as Rasp, was shared with her shortly after her wedding. She stated the letter contained troubling allegations and that she was assured they were being investigated. Sources indicated she did not speak publicly in 2018 to avoid jeopardizing a future investigation or facing legal action.

The Metropolitan Police has not previously investigated Markle Sr and is not doing so now, according to reports. The force said it is making internal inquiries to confirm whether Rasp officers were involved in passing the letter to the duchess. Meghan said any distance from her father and her decision to limit contact with her children served one purpose: to protect them. She added that she trusted authorities were doing the same for other families.

Markle Sr, currently in a rehabilitation center in Florida, denied the accusations. He is learning to walk with a prosthetic limb after a left leg amputation caused by a blood clot. Telling the Daily Mail, he described the claims as sick lies and said he was shocked and hurt by the developments. He noted that the computers had not been in his possession since he left Rosarito, Mexico, in January 2025 to move to the Philippines for a fresh start.

Meghan’s half-sister, Samantha Markle, defended their father and accused Markle Jr of fabricating stories to generate money. She claimed the allegations surfaced days after their father cut off his funds. Samantha Markle also argued that the computers were out of their father’s control for two years, which she said leaves room for tampering.

The duchess has been estranged from her father since he missed her wedding to Prince Harry on health grounds. She has never met her grandchildren, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five. The forensic review of the seized computer is scheduled to conclude within seven days, after which authorities will determine the next steps in the investigation.