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Meghan Markle Distressed Over Father's Child Abuse Image Allegations
Confirmed
In Short: The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, expressed deep distress over reports that her father, Thomas Markle, is under investigation in the Philippines for allegedly possessing child abuse images.
In a statement to CBS News, Markle 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.'
Markle's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., reported the discovery of the images to police in Cebu, Philippines, while sorting through his father’s belongings. He claimed to have found 'hundreds, if not thousands' of explicit images involving children.
Thomas Markle Sr., who is based in the US, denied the accusations, calling them 'sick lies.' He has been estranged from his daughter since 2018, shortly before her wedding to Prince Harry, after he staged photographs with paparazzi.
Markle Jr. told detectives he had discovered child sexual abuse images on computers and mobile phones stored in four large boxes at the home in Cebu where Markle Sr. was living until he returned to the US in May after having a stroke.
The Duchess of Sussex said she had been aware of troubling allegations against her father since 2018, which she said were the reason she kept him from having contact with her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
In a statement, Markle said, '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.'
Markle Sr. relocated to the Philippines in 2025 after suffering multiple strokes, and the allegations have further strained the relationship between him and his daughter.
The Duchess of Sussex won a High Court privacy and copyright claim against Associated Newspapers Limited in 2021 over the publication of a handwritten letter she wrote to her father in August 2018.
The investigation into Thomas Markle Sr. is ongoing, and authorities are working to ensure the safety and protection of any children involved.
What this adds
The allegations against Thomas Markle Sr. are more severe than previously reported, with Markle Jr. claiming to have found videos of girls as young as 10 or 11 engaged in sexual acts.
The Sun newspaper reported that Markle Jr. discovered a 15-minute video of naked girls on his father’s old cellphone, adding to the distressing nature of the allegations.
Background
A New Mexico judge dismissed the indictment against actor Timothy Busfield, citing prosecutorial misconduct.
Former Democratic Unionist Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was sentenced to 15 years in prison for a series of child sex offenses, including one count of rape, at Newry Crown Court on Friday, October 16, 2026.
What's confirmed
- The Duchess of Sussex has said she was informed about "disturbing allegations" about her estranged father in 2018.
- Her comments come after reports that images of child sexual abuse allegedly belonging to her father had been found at his former home in the Philippines, which she said were "deeply" distressing. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Thomas Markle, who is based in the US, denied possessing child sex images, calling the accusations "sick lies". Commenting after the allegations, first reported by The Sun newspaper, the duchess 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."
- The claims, made by Meghan Markle’s half-brother Thomas Markle Jr, allege that a stash of images was found at their father Thomas Markle Sr’s former home in the Philippines.
- In 2021, she won a High Court privacy and copyright claim against Associated Newspapers Limited over the publication of a handwritten letter she wrote to her father in August 2018.
- "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.
- Authorities in the UK had previously told the Duchess that allegations made about her father in a 2018 letter sent to Scotland Yard and subsequently shared with her by police were being investigated, it is understood.
What's still developing
- In a front-page story on Friday, the Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid newspaper claimed that Thomas Markle is being investigated over child abuse images after being reported to the FBI by his own son.
- Markle Snr appeared in the 2020 feature-length documentary, Thomas Markle: My Story, which aired on Skydance-owned UK network 5.
- However, Meghan's half-sister, Samantha Markle, accused him of fabricating the claims in a story in the Daily Mail.
- Raye has won the 2026 Mercury Prize for her second album This Music May Contain Hope, featuring the global hit song “Where Is My Husband?” The pop record, on which Hanz Zimmer was a collaborator, beat the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Olivia Dean and Ex-Little Mix star Jade to scoop the £25,000 prize.
- The Duchess of Sussex says she was made aware of ‘disturbing allegations’ against her father in 2018 This content is provided by Exco Player and may use cookies or similar technologies.
- "With the support of reliable and trusted contacts, her correspondence is now safely in his hands."
- Thomas reportedly left the alleged images in storage boxes buried among family “mementos,” which Thomas Jr., 60, found while searching for a phone.
- He claimed to have found videos of girls no older than 10 or 11 years old engaged in sexual acts, as well as a 15-minute video of naked girls on his father’s old cellphone.
- A spokesperson for the Duchess said Meghan had “reached out” to her father following the operation and had attempted to contact him on previous occasions.
- This was "to protect them", Meghan said, adding that she had "trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families".