Meghan Markle says distancing from father was to protect children amid child-pornography allegations
Meghan Markle expressed distress over allegations that her father possessed child-pornography material and reiterated that her decision to limit his contact with her children was motivated by their safety.
Meghan Markle said she was deeply distressed after reports that her half-brother Thomas Markle Jr. discovered large quantities of child-pornography images in their father Thomas Markle Sr.'s home in the Philippines and alerted authorities. She told The Times that a 2018 letter sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection raised troubling allegations against her father, and that she received assurances the matter was being investigated. Markle added that her decision to keep her father away from her children was made to protect them, and she hopes the media will understand this motive.
"My thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed," she 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."
The Metropolitan Police are verifying the 2018 letter, while the FBI confirmed awareness of the allegations and said it would cooperate with Philippine authorities if needed. Thomas Markle Sr. denied the accusations, describing them as false and saying he was shocked and hurt by his son's claims.