Meghan Markle is “deeply distressed” by the news that her father, Thomas Markle, is being investigated for possessing child sex abuse images, and has revealed she’s kept her children from him “for one reason: to protect them.”
In a report by Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid The Sun on Thursday, the Duchess of Sussex’s father, now 82, is said to have been reported to authorities by his own son, Thomas Markle Jr., who told police there were “hundreds, if not thousands” of illegal images in Markle’s Philippines home, the British outlet said.
The elder Markle, who was forced to leave the property in May and return to the U.S. after a blood clot led to the amputation of his left leg, is also reportedly being probed by the FBI about the “stash of vile content packed into storage boxes.”
The Duchess’ father has told The Daily Mail that the allegations are “a bunch of lies.” He said: “I’m shocked, I’m hurt and I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me. I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of.”
Now the Duchess — who has been estranged from her father since she married Prince Harry in 2018 — has released a bombshell statement to the U.K. press, in which she says she first learned of the allegations that same year. “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,” began Markle.
She continued: “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.”
Markle added that she hopes “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. 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 Hollywood Reporter has reached out to reps for the Duchess.
Thomas Markle Jr., 60, told The Sun: “When I found this material, I was horrified and I had no option but to report my dad. 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.”
Markle Sr. has given multiple interviews to the press about his daughter over the years, including in a Channel 5 documentary titled Thomas Markle: My Story, which aired in 2020.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved back to the U.K. just last month and have even been making some public appearances, despite King Charles’ assertion that the pair are “private citizens” and not working royals.
Their decision to come back to Britain shocked the nation and has not come without hurdles: Harry and Meghan were forced to move seven-year-old Archie and five-year-old Lilibet to a different school after just a few days due to security concerns over the commute.