Meghan Challenged Father Over Abuse Allegations, Reports Say
WHO:
Us Magazine - Thomas Markle Sr.’s ex-wife, Roslyn Loveless, was identified as the alleged author of the 2018 letter accusing him of multiple instances of child sexual abuse.
CBS News - Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, confronted her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., over child sexual abuse allegations, according to information from BBC News, CBS News’ British partner.
CBS News - Meghan is married to Britain’s Prince Harry; their children are Archie and Lilibet.
CBS News - Thomas Markle Jr. handed authorities photos and videos that police are investigating as alleged child sexual abuse material.
CBS News - Meghan said she was “deeply distressed” by news of the investigation and said she wanted to protect her children.
CBS News - Thomas Markle Sr., 82, denied possessing child sexual abuse material, saying he had “never downloaded anything like that in my life,” and called the allegations “sick lies.”
CBS News - A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the force was making internal enquiries to confirm officers’ involvement in passing on a letter.
CBS News - Roya Nikkhah, royal editor of the Sunday Times and a CBS News contributor, said the revelations were likely to bring Meghan public sympathy.
NY Post - Its live-updates description said claims concerned Meghan’s father allegedly keeping “hundreds if not thousands” of child pornography images in his home.
WHAT:
Us Magazine - The BBC and Page Six reported that Loveless was identified as the letter’s author through multiple sources.
CBS News - Police in the Philippines confirmed they were investigating Thomas Markle Sr. over alleged possession of a large stash of child sexual abuse photos and videos.
CBS News - The Daily Mail reported obtaining video of Thomas Markle accepting a letter from Meghan in his hospital room. The BBC reported that the letter said authorities and Meghan “knew he had abused young girls” and that he would never meet Archie and Lilibet.
CBS News - The Daily Mail quoted Thomas Markle as saying he did not remember the letter’s contents, but “if Meghan says that’s what she wrote, then she’s probably right.”
CBS News - The Daily Mail reported that Thomas Markle said he had paid for sex in the Philippines, denied possessing child sexual abuse material, and said he had never had sex with anyone under 18. It reported that he vowed to cooperate with authorities.
CBS News - Meghan said the allegations were why she and Harry cut off her father’s contact with their children.
CBS News - The Sun reported that the Metropolitan Police received multiple claims against Thomas Markle, including alleged child sexual abuse, and passed them to Meghan’s office.
CBS News - The London police are not currently investigating Thomas Markle, according to the report.
WHERE:
CBS News - The investigation is in the Philippines; the letter was reportedly delivered to Thomas Markle in a U.S. hospital room.
CBS News - Meghan said a letter was sent to London’s Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection.
WHEN:
CBS News - Meghan said she first learned of allegations in 2018, when the Metropolitan Police shared a letter with her.
CBS News - The Sun reported the Metropolitan Police were made aware of claims in 2019.
CBS News - Meghan confronted her father “last year”; the Daily Mail’s video reportedly showed him receiving her letter in December 2025.
CBS News - Philippine police confirmed the investigation “last week”; Meghan’s statement was also issued “last week.” The Daily Mail published statements attributed to Thomas Markle on Friday and Sunday.
WHY:
CBS News - Meghan said she kept her family distant from her father “for one reason: to protect them.”
HOW:
CBS News - Meghan said the Metropolitan Police shared a letter with her outlining allegations and that she had been assured they were being investigated; police said they were undertaking internal enquiries to confirm the reported handling of the letter.
(UPDATED October 26, 2026 15:33 UTC)
Philippine police are investigating Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s father, Thomas Markle Sr., over alleged possession of child sexual abuse images and videos, which he denies, saying he has never downloaded such material. Meghan said she was deeply distressed and had kept her children away from him to protect them; she said she first learned of the allegations in 2018 through a letter shared by London’s Metropolitan Police, who are now checking officers’ handling of it. Roslyn Loveless, Markle’s ex-wife, was identified as the alleged author of the letter accusing him of abusing children, while Markle said he did not remember its contents and vowed to cooperate with authorities.
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(UPDATED October 26, 2026 14:50 UTC)
Philippine police are investigating Thomas Markle Sr. over alleged possession of child sexual abuse photos and videos, after his son handed authorities material they are examining. Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, said she was deeply distressed and had kept her father away from her children, Archie and Lilibet, to protect them; she said she learned of the allegations in 2018 and later confronted him in a letter. Markle denied possessing the material, called the allegations “sick lies,” and said he would cooperate with authorities, while London’s Metropolitan Police said it is making internal enquiries about officers’ handling of the letter.