Meghan Markle Says She Knew of Father's Allegations Since 2018

The investigation into Thomas Markle in the Philippines has become a major international story. The core issue involves alleged child sexual abuse materials found in his home. This new development has drawn global attention to the Markle family.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, released a statement on Friday. She described herself as deeply distressed by the news. The statement was sent directly to CBS News. She addressed the ongoing probe into her father.

The duchess said she has known about these claims for a long time. She stated that the allegations were first brought to her attention in 2018. At that time, the matter was passed to U.K. authorities. She noted that a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police. It was also sent to the Royalty and Specialist Protection unit.

Meghan explained that she received a copy of that letter. The document contained what she called troubling and disturbing allegations. She said she was given assurances that an investigation was underway. This timeline suggests the issue was known to her family years before the current Philippine inquiry began.

However, the Metropolitan Police has not yet investigated Thomas Markle. A spokesperson for the force confirmed they are aware of the media reports. The police said officers from the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command helped pass on the letter in 2018. The force is now conducting internal enquiries to confirm these details.

The Duchess also spoke about her relationship with her father. She said she has been estranged from him for some time. She explained that she distanced herself to protect her children. She stated that this choice was made to keep them safe. She said this decision has sometimes been distorted by media publications over the years.

The probe in the Philippines was triggered by a report from Thomas Markle Jr. He is the son of the man under investigation. The Daily Mail reported that Thomas Markle Jr. found the materials in storage boxes. This discovery happened at the family home in the Philippines.

Thomas Markle Jr. allegedly found the items while his father was in the United States. His father was receiving treatment for a stroke and a blood clot. Thomas Markle Jr. reportedly first saw some of the materials when he switched on an old cell phone. He then reported the findings to several agencies in July.

Those agencies included the FBI hotline and the National Center for Exploited and Missing Children. He also reported the matter to state police in Pennsylvania. Philippine state media confirmed the investigation on Friday. The Department of Justice is looking into the case involving an octogenarian American national.

The Filipino justice official said the anti-trafficking task force is handling the matter. They confirmed that Thomas Markle Sr. is the subject of the investigation. The case is centered on Cebu province. Thomas Markle Sr. has denied the claims. He told the Daily Mail that he has never downloaded such materials. He called the claims sick lies. Meghan said her hope is that justice is served and children are protected.