Key Takeaways
- Meghan Markle said a 2018 letter containing disturbing allegations about her father influenced her decision to keep him away from Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
- The unidentified author reportedly told London’s Metropolitan Police that Thomas Sr. had admitted traveling to the Philippines and Thailand to abuse children, though authorities’ response remains unclear.
- Cebu authorities are separately investigating child sexual abuse material allegedly found among Thomas Sr.’s belongings; he denies wrongdoing and has not been charged.
A letter sent to London's Metropolitan Police in 2018 accused Meghan Markle's father, Thomas Markle Sr., of sexually abusing a child. The revelation comes as the 82-year-old faces a separate investigation into alleged child sexual abuse material reportedly discovered among his belongings.
According to Page Six, the letter was addressed to the Metropolitan Police's Fixated Threat Assessment Centre (FTAC), a specialist unit that deals with threats involving public figures. Its author claimed that Thomas Sr. had admitted traveling to the Philippines and Thailand to sexually abuse children.
The letter’s author has not been identified. It is also unclear what action police took after receiving the correspondence.
"In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection," Meghan said in a statement provided to Newsweek. "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."
"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.
Thomas Jr. said he reported the discovery to police. Authorities in Cebu are investigating the allegations.
Thomas Sr. has vehemently denied wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime.
"I'm shocked, I'm hurt, and I'm very upset that my son is making these accusations against me," he said in a statement obtained by Page Six. "I could never do what I'm being accused of. It's the worst thing anyone could accuse me of."
Meghan's half-sister, Samantha Markle, has also rejected the allegations, accusing Thomas Jr. of fabricating them because of a financial dispute with their father. Samantha’s claims have not been independently established.
Meanwhile, the newly reported letter adds another dimension to an estrangement that has dominated coverage of Meghan's family since 2018.
Her relationship with Thomas Sr. deteriorated ahead of her royal wedding after he participated in staged paparazzi photographs. He later withdrew from the ceremony, citing a heart attack, and subsequently gave numerous interviews criticizing his daughter.
Later that year, Meghan wrote him a private letter urging him to stop speaking publicly about their relationship. The Mail on Sunday later published portions, prompting a privacy and copyright lawsuit that Meghan won.
In court documents cited by Newsweek, Meghan said the letter to her father contained "unpalatable truths" that she believed would discourage him from making it public.
When Newsweek asked whether that phrase referred to the allegations reported to police in 2018, a spokesperson for Meghan declined to comment for legal reasons.
However, in her statement, Meghan expressed concern for children who may have been harmed and called for authorities to prioritize their protection.
"My sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children," she said.
If you suspect child sexual exploitation or human trafficking, confidential help is available. Report suspected child sexual abuse material to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's CyberTipline at CyberTipline.org or 1-800-843-5678. For suspected human trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733.
