Meghan Reportedly Upset by Allegations Against Father Thomas Markle
WHO:
NY Post - Prince Harry said in 2022 that he blamed himself for Meghan’s estrangement from her father.
US Magazine - Thomas Markle Sr. was 82 when he spoke to the Daily Mail about the allegations.
CNN - Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, said she was “deeply distressed” by allegations about her father, Thomas Markle Sr.
CNN - Thomas Markle Jr. told The Sun he discovered the alleged images at his father’s home and reported them to authorities in the Philippines.
CNN - Thomas Markle Sr. denied the allegations; his daughter Samantha Markle also said they were untrue and accused her brother of making them up.
NBC News - Meghan said allegations that her father possessed child sexual abuse images had deeply distressed her.
ABC News World - Meghan said she was deeply distressed by allegations concerning images found at her father’s former home.
NY Post - Meghan said police had told her about “disturbing allegations” against her father.
WHAT:
US Magazine - Thomas Markle Sr. said he was “shocked,” “hurt” and “very upset” by his son’s accusations, and called them “sick lies.”
CNN - Meghan said her thoughts were with any children who may have been harmed.
CNN - The Sun reported that Thomas Markle Jr. said he found “hundreds, if not thousands” of images depicting child sex abuse in storage boxes and computer hard drives at Thomas Markle Sr.’s home.
CNN - The Philippines Justice Department’s child abuse unit said the matter was “under investigation.”
CNN - Meghan said she hoped “justice will be fully served” and that children’s safety and protection would remain the priority.
CNN - CNN said it was seeking comment from Thomas Markle Sr., Thomas Markle Jr., Samantha Markle, the Metropolitan Police and the FBI.
WHERE:
CNN - The alleged images were reportedly found at Thomas Markle Sr.’s house in the Philippines.
CNN - The Sun said Thomas Markle Sr. spoke to the Daily Mail from a rehabilitation center in Florida.
WHEN:
NY Post - Meghan said she was told about the allegations in 2018, the year she married Prince Harry.
CNN - Meghan said a letter containing allegations was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection in 2018 and was subsequently shared with her.
CNN - Meghan said she had been made aware of allegations against her estranged father eight years earlier.
CNN - Thomas Markle Sr. told the Daily Mail that he had not possessed the computers since he left Mexico with his son in 2025.
WHY:
TMZ - Samantha Markle alleged that Thomas Markle Jr. fabricated the claims to get revenge and quickly destroy their father.
CNN - Meghan said her estrangement from her father and decision not to allow him contact with her children were “for one reason: to protect them.”
CNN - Meghan said she had received assurances that the allegations in the 2018 letter were being investigated.
HOW:
CNN - Thomas Markle Jr. told The Sun he reported his father after finding the material, saying, “When I found this material I was horrified and I had no option but to report my dad.”
CNN - Thomas Markle Sr. called the allegations “a bunch of lies” and said, “I could never do what I’m being accused of.”
CNN - The Daily Mail reported that Thomas Markle Sr. was learning to walk with a prosthetic limb after his leg was amputated following a blood clot.
(UPDATED October 23, 2026 23:09 UTC)
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, says she is deeply distressed by allegations that images of child sexual abuse were found at her estranged father’s home in the Philippines. Her half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., told The Sun he found hundreds, possibly thousands, of images on computers and in storage boxes, and reported them to authorities. The Philippines Justice Department says its child abuse unit is investigating. Thomas Markle Sr. denies the accusations, calling them lies, and says he could never do what he is accused of. His daughter Samantha also says the claims are untrue, alleging her brother fabricated them to get revenge. Meghan says she learned of allegations in 2018, when a letter was sent to British police and protection officials, and received assurances they were being investigated. She says her estrangement and decision to keep her children from their grandfather are to protect them, and hopes justice is served.
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(UPDATED October 23, 2026 21:11 UTC)
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, says she is deeply distressed by allegations that her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., possessed images of child sexual abuse. Her half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., told The Sun he found hundreds, possibly thousands, of images on computers and in storage boxes at their father’s home in the Philippines, and reported the material to authorities. The Philippines Justice Department says the matter is under investigation. Markle Sr. denies the allegations, calling them lies, while daughter Samantha Markle says her brother fabricated them. Meghan said she had been made aware of allegations eight years earlier, after a letter was sent to British police and royal protection officials. She said her estrangement from her father, and her decision to keep him from her children, were to protect them. Meghan added that her thoughts are with any children harmed and said their safety must remain the priority.
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(UPDATED October 23, 2026 13:19 UTC)
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, says she is deeply distressed by allegations that her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., possessed images of child sexual abuse. Her half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., told The Sun he found hundreds or possibly thousands of images in storage boxes and on computer drives at their father’s home in the Philippines, and reported them to authorities. The Philippines Justice Department’s child abuse unit says the matter is under investigation. Markle Sr. denies the allegations, calling them lies, and says he no longer had the computers after leaving Mexico with his son in 2025. Meghan says she was made aware of concerns eight years earlier, after a letter was sent to British police and protection officials. She says her estrangement from her father, and her decision to keep him from her children, are intended to protect them.