Meghan Says She Shielded Children as Father Faces Probe Amid Abuse Claims
WHO:
Fox News - Meghan Markle said she had kept her father, Thomas Markle, away from her children.
ABC News - Meghan is the wife of Prince Harry, and they have two children.
ABC News - Thomas Markle Jr. is Meghan’s half-brother and reportedly reported their father to Philippine police.
ABC News - Philippine News Agency reported that the Philippines Department of Justice is investigating the matter. DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Ty said its anti-trafficking and online sexual abuse and exploitation of children task force was investigating.
ABC News - The FBI said it was aware of the allegations and would support Philippine authorities as appropriate and investigate any related alleged violations of U.S. federal law.
ABC News - The Metropolitan Police Service said it was making internal enquiries about reports that its Royalty and Specialist Protection Command had passed on a letter.
WHAT:
ABC News - The Philippine News Agency described the subject of its report as an “octogenarian American national” and said he had left child-abuse videos and photos in his home in Cebu province.
BBC - The Metropolitan Police said it received the letter in 2019, reviewed it, and decided to pass it to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their awareness.
BBC - The allegations in the letter were not shared with other law enforcement agencies.
ABC News - Thomas Markle Sr. told the Daily Mail that the computers had not been in his possession since he left Rosarito, Mexico.
Drudge Report - The headline says a photo allegedly showing Meghan Markle’s father abusing a child was turned over to police.
Fox News - Meghan said a letter to the Metropolitan Police made “disturbing allegations” against Thomas Markle; he denies the allegations.
ABC News - Meghan said she was “deeply distressed” by reports about her father and that her thoughts were with children who may have been harmed.
ABC News - Thomas Markle Jr. reportedly alleged that he found child sexual abuse images on his father’s phone and computers. Thomas Markle Sr. denied the allegations, calling them “sick lies” and “the worst thing anyone could accuse me of.”
ABC News - Thomas Markle Sr. said he was shocked, hurt, and upset by his son’s accusations, and said he “could never do” what he was accused of.
ABC News - Buckingham Palace declined to comment. ABC News said it had not reached either Thomas Markle for comment.
WHERE:
ABC News - The reported material was allegedly found at Thomas Markle Sr.’s home in Cebu province, Philippines. He reportedly traveled from the Philippines to the United States for medical treatment.
ABC News - Meghan and Prince Harry married at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, England; King Charles III walked Meghan down the aisle.
WHEN:
US Magazine - Thomas Markle Jr. told The Sun in October 2026 that he allegedly discovered child sexual abuse material in boxes at his father’s home.
ABC News - Thomas Markle Sr. said he left Rosarito, Mexico, in January 2025.
WHY:
Fox News - Meghan said she kept her father away from her children to “protect” them amid the allegations.
ABC News - Meghan said the allegations were the reason she had been estranged from her father; she said he did not attend her wedding after being found to have been paid by paparazzi to pose for photographs.
HOW:
ABC News - Meghan said a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection in 2018 and later shared with her. She said she was assured the allegations were being investigated.
US Magazine - Thomas Markle Jr. reportedly said he discovered child sexual abuse material in boxes at his father’s former home in the Philippines.
(UPDATED October 24, 2026 17:58 UTC)
Meghan Markle says she kept her father, Thomas Markle Sr., away from her two children to protect them amid disturbing allegations. Her half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., reportedly told authorities he found child sexual abuse images on their father’s devices and in boxes at his home in Cebu province, Philippines. Thomas Markle Sr. denies the claims, calling them “sick lies,” and says the computers had not been in his possession since he left Mexico. The Philippine Department of Justice is investigating, and the FBI says it is aware of the allegations and will support Philippine authorities as appropriate. London’s Metropolitan Police is also making internal enquiries after reports its protection command passed a letter about the allegations to Prince Harry and Meghan’s office. The force says it reviewed the letter and shared it for their awareness; it was not passed to other law enforcement agencies.
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(UPDATED October 24, 2026 14:58 UTC)
Philippine authorities are investigating allegations that child sexual abuse material was found on Thomas Markle Sr.’s devices and at his former home in Cebu province. Meghan Markle said she was deeply distressed by the reports and had kept her father away from her two children to protect them. Her half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., reportedly told Philippine police he found material on his father’s phone and computers. Thomas Markle Sr. denies the accusations, calling them “sick lies,” and says he could never do what he is accused of. He also said the computers had not been in his possession since he left Rosarito, Mexico. Meghan said a letter containing disturbing allegations was sent to London’s Metropolitan Police, which reviewed it and passed it to the Sussexes’ office in 2019. The FBI says it is aware of the allegations and will support Philippine authorities as appropriate.
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(UPDATED October 24, 2026 04:05 UTC)
Meghan Markle says she kept her father, Thomas Markle Sr., away from her two children to protect them amid disturbing allegations. Her half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., reportedly told Philippine police he found child sexual abuse images on their father’s phone and computers, including material in boxes at a former home in Cebu province. Thomas Markle Sr. denies the accusations, calling them “sick lies,” and says he has not had the computers since leaving Rosarito, Mexico. Meghan says a letter outlining allegations was sent to London’s Metropolitan Police in 2018 and later shared with her, and that she was assured the claims were being investigated. The Philippines Department of Justice is investigating, while the FBI says it will support Philippine authorities as appropriate and examine any possible U.S. law violations. London police are making internal enquiries. Meghan says the allegations explain her estrangement from her father.
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(UPDATED October 23, 2026 23:14 UTC)
Meghan Markle says disturbing allegations against her father, Thomas Markle, explain why she has kept him away from her children with Prince Harry. Her half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., reportedly told Philippine police he found child sexual abuse images on their father’s devices and in boxes at his former home in Cebu province. Thomas Markle Sr. denies the accusations, calling them “sick lies” and saying he could never do what he is accused of. Meghan said a letter sent to London’s Metropolitan Police in 2018 raised the allegations, and she was assured they were being investigated. She says the letter was later shared with her, and that she is deeply distressed by the reports, with her thoughts on children who may have been harmed. Philippine authorities are investigating, while the FBI says it may support them and examine possible U.S. law violations. London police are making internal enquiries.