Home · Entertainment · Oct 30 archive
Buckingham Palace Unaware of Thomas Markle Jr's Allegations
· Confirmed
In Short: Buckingham Palace was left uninformed about Thomas Markle Jr.'s claims of finding child sexual abuse images at his father's home in the Philippines.
Thomas Markle Jr. told The Sun on Oct. 22 that he found 'hundreds, if not thousands' of images depicting child sexual abuse while clearing out boxes at his father's former home in Cebu, Philippines.
Kinsey Schofield, host of the YouTube show 'Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered,' reported that she made over 40 phone calls to royal sources over the weekend and none had heard of these allegations before the story broke.
The Sun reported that Thomas Markle Jr. contacted the Philippine police and the FBI after discovering the images. Thomas Markle Sr., the father of Meghan Markle, denied the allegations to The Daily Mail, stating, '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.'
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, expressed her distress over the allegations, saying, '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 Metropolitan Police confirmed that allegations were passed to Sussex's office in 2019 but did not share them with other law enforcement agencies. The Met is now considering whether a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is necessary to review its approach.
Philippine authorities confirmed they were investigating the matter after reports that Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., had allegedly discovered a collection of child sexual abuse images at their father’s former home.
Thomas Markle Jr. apologized to Meghan for initially siding with her father during their long-running estrangement and said he had 'been protecting the wrong person for the past nine years.'
The FBI stated it is aware of the allegations and will provide support to the Philippine authorities as appropriate, and will investigate any related allegations of federal violations of US law.
Meghan Markle mentioned in a statement that a letter with troubling allegations against her father was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection in early 2019.
The case has raised questions about the communication and handling of such serious allegations within the royal household and with law enforcement.
What this adds
Buckingham Palace's lack of prior knowledge about the allegations highlights potential gaps in communication regarding sensitive matters involving the royal family.
Background
Buckingham Palace was blindsided by Thomas Markle Jr.'s claims that he found child sexual abuse images at his father's home in the Philippines.
What's confirmed
- The Sun reported on Oct. 22 that Thomas Markle Jr. said he found "hundreds, if not thousands" of images depicting child sexual abuse while clearing out boxes at his father's former home in Cebu, Philippines.
- Markle Jr. told the newspaper that he reported the images to Philippine police and contacted the FBI in the U.S. The 82-year-old Markle denied the allegations to the Daily Mail, telling the newspaper: "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."
- Thomas Markle Sr. has denied the allegations, and the case is ongoing.
- Home » Trending » Buckingham Palace Blindsided by Thomas Markle Sr. Allegations Amid Disturbing Claims Buckingham Palace is facing another controversy involving Meghan Markle’s estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., after allegations surfaced regarding disturbing content allegedly found in his possession.
- Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has said she is “deeply distressed” by allegations that her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., possessed child sexual abuse images, revealing that she had been informed of “troubling and disturbing” allegations against him in 2018.
- 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 an interview with the Daily Mail, Markle Sr denied possessing child sexual abuse images, calling the accusations “sick lies”.
- Meghan is the only child from Mr Markle’s marriage to Doria Ragland, though he has two children, Samantha Markle and Thomas Jr., from a previous marriage.
- 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.
- "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."
What's still developing
- He had two other children with his first wife, Roslyn Loveless: Thomas Jr., 60, and daughter Samantha, 61.
- Footage shows Thomas Markle's son handing over VHS tapes and dismantled computers to police Philippine police have obtained a warrant to examine devices seized from the former home of Thomas Markle, father of the Duchess of Sussex.
- Cebu Regional Prosecutor Graeme Elmido told the BBC that Thomas Markle Jr was "adamant" that the case should be investigated, and that he felt his father "has to answer for it".
- Mr Markle Sr relocated to the Philippines in 2025 after suffering multiple strokes.
- “Our Anti-Trafficking and Anti-OSAEC (online sexual abuse and exploitation of children) task force in Cebu is currently investigating the matter,” Philippine Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty told Reuters.
- He also said the discovery permanently damaged their relationship: "I won't speak to my father ever again unless I'm called to give evidence against him."
- In 2021, Meghan won a UK High Court privacy and copyright claim against Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers over articles that reproduced parts of a "private" letter she wrote to him, asking him to stop talking to the press.