Meghan Markle Sends Final Letter to Father Amid Abuse Allegations
The Duchess of Sussex wrote to her father, Thomas Markle, stating she would cease contact and would not allow him to meet her children, after learning of alleged child sexual abuse material linked to him.
The Duchess of Sussex wrote to her father, Thomas Markle, while he was hospitalized in the Philippines, informing him that she would no longer be in contact and that he would not be permitted to meet her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The letter, reported by sources close to the Duchess, also noted that authorities were aware of the allegations against him.
Philippine authorities are investigating claims that Markle kept a collection of child sexual abuse images at his former residence there, a charge he denies and describes as false. The Metropolitan Police confirmed it received a 2019 letter containing multiple allegations about Markle’s conduct outside the United Kingdom and that the letter was shared with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their awareness, but it was not forwarded to other law enforcement agencies. The force said it is reviewing its handling of the matter and may refer the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Meghan Markle previously said she became aware of “disturbing allegations” in 2018 after being shown a letter sent to Scotland Yard. A spokesperson for the Duchess said any discrepancy in dates should be treated according to the police’s time-stamped record.
Markle Sr. has admitted to paying for sex in the Philippines but continues to deny possessing child sexual abuse material. He told a newspaper that he has never had sex with anyone under 18 and expressed willingness to undergo a forensic examination of his computer, stating any illicit content would have been placed there by someone else.
Markle’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., claimed to have found the alleged images at their father’s former home and reported the matter to Philippine police and U.S. investigators. Markle’s eldest daughter, Samantha Markle, defended her father, describing the accusations as a set-up.
"If there is anything bad on there, it was put there by someone else," Markle said.
Markle is recovering from a leg amputation performed in 2025 and is learning to walk again at a nursing facility in Florida.