Meghan Markle has shared a statement saying she is “deeply distressed” by allegations that her estranged father, Thomas Markle, possessed child sex abuse images.
A report in The Sun claimed on Friday that child sex abuse images had allegedly been found in 82-year-old Thomas Markle’s former home in the Philippines by his son, Thomas Markle Jr. Variety has not been able to verify if there is currently an investigation underway. Thomas Markle — who now reportedly lives in Florida — vehemently denied the allegations to the Daily Mail, calling them “a bunch of lies” and adding: “I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of.”
In a statement shared with Variety, the Duchess of Sussex said: “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.” She claimed that in 2018, a letter about her father was sent to the Metropolitan Police and its Royalty and Specialist Protection unit and was “subsequently shared” with her.
“It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated,” Meghan said. “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. I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families.”
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement to Variety: “We are aware of media reports that officers from the Met’s Royalty and Specialist Protection Command were involved in the passing on of a letter in 2018. We are undertaking enquiries internally in an effort to confirm this.”
Meghan has been estranged from her father since 2018, when he failed to walk her down the aisle at her wedding. She was escorted by King Charles instead. Thomas Markle has never met her and Prince Harry‘s two children. Last year, she sent a letter to him while he was in the hospital getting his left lower leg amputated due to a blood clot.
“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,” Meghan concluded.
Representatives for the FBI and local police in the Philippines did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment. Variety has made attempts to reach Thomas Markle and Thomas Markle Jr.
According to the BBC, the undersecretary for the Philippines Department of Justice, Nicholas Ty, confirmed that “the matter is currently being investigated” by an anti-human trafficking and child sexual exploitation task force. The national police are in possession of Thomas Markle’s computer, Philippines interior minister Jonvic Remulla told the outlet, to conduct a digital forensic examination.
Meghan and Prince Harry recently moved back to the U.K. after living in California for six years. Speaking to GQ about the move, Prince Harry revealed that he still has hopes of reconnecting with his father, King Charles, and brother Prince William.
“Some people don’t want it to work out. I want it to work out,” Harry said. “With everything else that’s going on in the world, the most important thing is to reconcile — that’s the key point.”