The Duchess of Sussex has said she is “deeply distressed” over reports that her father is being investigated by police on suspicion of possessing child sex abuse images.
Thomas Markle is alleged to have kept a collection of indecent images of children, discovered by his son Thomas Markle Jr.
The Duchess of Sussex’s half-brother is said to have found the images in boxes at his 82-year-old father’s home in the Philippines.
Thomas Snr has denied possessing child sex images, calling his son’s accusations “sick lies” in an interview with the Daily Mail.
In a statement, Meghan revealed that “disturbing allegations” about her father were first passed to her in 2018 by police. She did not detail what the allegations contained.
Royalty and Specialist Protection, a unit within the Met, shared the letter with her, and she was given assurances that the authorities in the UK were investigating, The i Paper understands.
“I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed,” Meghan said.
“In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. That letter was subsequently shared with me.
“It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated.”
The Duchess said it explained why she had been estranged from her father since 2018.
“I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications’ distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason: to protect them,” she said.
“I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families.”
She added: “Although the breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine, my sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children.”
The Metropolitan Police has been contacted for comment.
This is a breaking story.