Meghan “Deeply Distressed” by Thomas Markle Probe Reports

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By TRH World Desk

Meghan “deeply distressed” as her father, Thomas Markle, faces Philippines investigation; he denies the allegations

New Delhi, October 24, 2026 — Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has said she is “deeply distressed” by reports that her father, Thomas Markle, is under investigation in the Philippines over alleged possession of child abuse material. Markle denies the allegations.

The Sun reported on Thursday that Markle’s son, Thomas Markle Jr., alerted authorities after allegedly finding the material in boxes at his father’s former home in Cebu. He reportedly first saw some of it on an old phone and reported it in July to an FBI hotline, a US child-protection centre and Pennsylvania state police. A Philippine justice official told Reuters an anti-trafficking task force in Cebu is investigating.

In a statement issued Friday, the duchess said her thoughts were with any children who may have been harmed. She said a letter making troubling allegations was sent in 2018 to the Metropolitan Police and its Royalty and Specialist Protection command, and was shared with her. She said she had kept her children away from their grandfather to protect them. She also said she trusted the authorities were doing the same for other families.

Markle, 82, told the Daily Mail the claims were “sick lies” and said he was shocked and hurt that his son was making them. His other daughter, Samantha Markle, who cares for him, said the allegations had no merit and that the computers in question had been stored in a building where he had no access for two years.

The BBC reported that Meghan said she was given assurance that the claims were being investigated, while The Independent quoted the Met as saying it “has not and is not currently investigating Mr Markle.” The Met said it was aware of media reports that its officers were involved in passing on a letter in 2018 and was making internal enquiries to confirm this. The BBC noted it was unclear whether any information about Markle was shared before or after Meghan’s wedding to Prince Harry in 2018.

Markle and Meghan have been estranged since 2018, when he was found to have staged paparazzi photos before the royal wedding. He later moved to the Philippines.

The scope of the evidence, whether any charges will follow, and what the Met establishes about 2018 remain unclear. The Philippine justice department’s inquiry is at an early stage.