Thomas Markle Sr. Discussed Relationship with Younger Nurse Amid Child Abuse Investigation
Thomas Markle Sr. confirmed a relationship with a 46-year-old nurse in the Philippines, while police investigate allegations that he possessed child sexual abuse images, a claim reported by his son.
Thomas Markle Sr., the father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, told the Daily Mail in March that he is dating Rio Canedo, a 46-year-old nurse he met while recovering from leg-amputation surgery in the Philippines. The two have been living in Cebu since January 2025, where Markle and his son, Thomas Jr., relocated.
"I never expected to find joy and happiness again at my age. I felt neglected and sad for so many years but now I am enjoying life again," Markle said.
"I know some people will say hurtful things but I don’t care," he added, acknowledging the age difference.
"I want to talk about this because I never thought I would ever be happy again. I want people to know you’re never too old to find peace and love," he continued.
Separately, a report this week indicated that Philippine authorities are preparing to seize material alleged to be child sexual abuse images found in Markle’s Cebu home. According to the Sun, Thomas Jr., 60, discovered the material while searching for a phone and reported his father to police.
"When I found this material I was horrified and I had no option but to report my dad," Thomas Jr. said.
The alleged content is described as images of girls around 10-11 years old engaged in sexual acts. An insider close to the Duchess of Sussex suggested the investigation may explain her limited contact with her father since 2018. Neither Thomas Sr. nor Thomas Jr. responded to requests for comment, and representatives for Meghan and Harry did not reply.