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Meghan says she was alerted to abuse image claims against father in 2018

The Duchess of Sussex issued a statement expressing deep distress over accusations involving child sexual abuse images against her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr.

23 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Meghan says she was alerted to abuse image claims against father in 2018 — Archive photoPhoto: Miami Police Department · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stated she was "deeply distressed" following allegations that her father possessed child sexual abuse images. She revealed that she had been made aware of "disturbing allegations" against him in 2018 by the Metropolitan police. According to the sources, her half-brother Thomas Markle Jr had alleged he found such material at their father's former home, and the Sun newspaper published claims related to these accusations.

Meghan said she had blocked contact between her father and her children due to previous "troubling and disturbing" allegations. She has been estranged from Thomas Markle Sr since her marriage to Prince Harry. The Duchess issued her statement after the media reports about the current accusations emerged.

According to reports, Thomas Markle Sr faces a probe in the Philippines over alleged possession of child sexual abuse materials. The allegations have brought renewed attention to the long-standing estrangement between Meghan and her father, which has previously been the subject of extensive media coverage.

The Metropolitan police confirmed they were not investigating Thomas Markle over the allegations. The force stated they were making internal inquiries regarding a letter passed to the Duchess of Sussex in 2018. This distinction between a police investigation and internal inquiries marks an important clarification in the developing situation.

Meghan's statement addressed the claims directly, countering depictions in some media coverage that had portrayed her as a daughter distancing herself from an elderly father in declining years. Her public response detailed her awareness of the allegations and the steps she had taken regarding contact with her father.

The circumstances surrounding the accusations and their handling by authorities remain ongoing, with the distinction between different jurisdictions and types of inquiries continuing to develop as further details emerge from official sources.

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