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The royal family may distance themselves from Meghan Markle and Prince Harry after her father, Thomas Markle Sr., was accused of possessing a “vile” trove of child pornography.
“This may give King Charles III the ammunition to take a firmer stance in distancing the monarchy from Harry and Meghan,” royal commentator Kinsey Schofield exclusively told Page Six.
“The Sussexes are private citizens, and perhaps it’s time the Palace made that separation unmistakably clear,” she continued.
The “Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered” podcast host argued that the monarchy should not have to keep “absorbing the reputational fallout” from controversies unrelated to its work.
Schofield said she does not expect Charles to publicly address the allegations involving Meghan’s father.
“I don’t expect Buckingham Palace to dignify this story with a response,” Schofield said. “These allegations concern private individuals, and the royal family has no responsibility to defend or explain their behavior.”
A Buckingham Palace source echoed that sentiment, telling Page Six that the scandal is “a matter for the Sussex Household.”
The entertainment reporter also pointed to the “reputational consequences” the royal family is already facing over former Prince Andrew’s ties to pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
“The last thing it needs is another uncomfortable controversy involving people connected to the royal family,” Schofield said.
She added, “This isn’t the Palace’s mess, but unfortunately, the royal connection ensures it becomes part of the conversation.”
On Thursday, Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., publicly accused their dad of possessing child sexual abuse material.
The disturbing allegations sparked a bitter feud within the Markle family, with Meghan’s half-sister, Samantha Markle, accusing her brother of fabricating the claims for financial gain. Samantha also suggested that their father may have been set up, casting doubt on her brother’s account.
Thomas Sr. vehemently denied the accusations, saying he’s “shocked” and “very upset” that his son is making these claims against him.
“I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of,” Thomas Sr. told Daily Mail Friday, calling them “sick lies.”
“I have no idea why Tom is trying to destroy me with these lies,” he said of his son.
Page Six previously confirmed that the Cebu City Police Office in the Philippines is investigating the allegations, with the Women and Children Protection Center assigned to the case.
Meanwhile, Meghan said in a statement that she was “deeply distressed” by the investigation and revealed that she had been informed of troubling allegations against him years earlier.
“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,” the mom of two said in part. “I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families.”
Meghan — who shares Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, with Harry — has been estranged from her father since at least 2018, when he was caught staging paparazzi photos ahead of her royal wedding to the Duke of Sussex, which he ultimately did not attend.
Meanwhile, she and Harry have been on the outs with William and Charles since the couple resigned from their royal duties in 2020 and moved to California — only to return to the UK six years later in August.