Meghan's father Thomas Markle investigated by police over child sex abuse image claims

The Duchess of Sussex has said she is "deeply distressed" by allegations that her estranged father possessed child sex abuse images.

Thomas Markle is being investigated by police in the Philippines over claims that he kept child sexual abuse images at his home.

Mr Markle has denied possessing the images, calling the accusations "sick lies", in an interview with the Daily Mail.

In a statement to Sky News, Meghan 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.

"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 letter was sent to Meghan in the summer of 2018 after her wedding to Prince Harry in May that year.

It is understood the Metropolitan Police has not previously, nor is the force currently, investigating Mr Markle.

In addition, officers are conducting an internal inquiry to confirm if the 2018 letter was passed on by the royal protection unit.

Sky News understands it would be possible for a letter of this kind to be passed on as its contents could have implications for the couple's security.

Meghan continued: "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.

"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 has been estranged from her father since 2018, when he was caught staging paparazzi photos in the run-up to her wedding to Harry.

Mr Markle did not attend the wedding, leaving the King - who was then the Prince of Wales - to accompany Meghan down the aisle. Her mother, Doria Ragland, was the only member of her family present.

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The Sun reported that Meghan's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jnr, alleged he had found a stash of images belonging to their father at his former home in the Philippines.

Mr Markle moved to the country in 2025 after suffering a series of strokes.

In December last year, the Duchess contacted her father via a letter after he had his left leg amputated and told a newspaper he did not want to die while distanced from his daughter.

He is now reportedly living in a rehabilitation centre in Florida.

Harry and Meghan moved back to the UK in August, six years after they stepped down as working royals and relocated to the US.

(c) Sky News 2026: Meghan's father Thomas Markle investigated by police over child sex abuse image claims