Meghan Markle Knew of Her Father's 'Sickening' Child Sex Images Claim

Meghan Markle has said she is “deeply distressed” by reports that her father, Thomas Markle Sr. is being investigated over child sex abuse images and that prior allegations against him were the reason she kept him from having contact with her children.

The Sun reported on Thursday that 82-year-old Markle Sr. is alleged to have kept the images at his home in the Philippines and left them behind when he returned to the United States earlier this year. The allegations have not been proven and he has not been charged with any offense.

“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,” the Duchess of Sussex said in a statement provided to Newsweek.

In her statement, she said that a letter had been sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection in 2018 that was later shared with her.

“It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated,” she said.

She said that prompted her decision to maintain distance from her father and not allow him contact with her children.

"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. 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.”

Thomas Markle Jr, 60, told the newspaper that he reported his father to police after discovering the images at his former home in Cebu.

“When I found this material, I was horrified and I had no option but to report my dad,” he said.

“I have supported, cared for him and helped him for years — but that stops now. I won’t speak to my father ever again unless I’m called to give evidence against him.”

Samantha Markle, Meghan’s half-sister, told the Daily Mail that her brother’s allegations had “no merit in them whatsoever” and accused him of setting their father up.

This is a developing story. More to follow.