Royal household reportedly surprised by abuse allegations involving Meghan Markle's father
British officials say Buckingham Palace had not been briefed on child-abuse claims against Thomas Markle Sr. before they were reported in the media, while investigations continue in the Philippines and the United States.
British royal commentators said Buckingham Palace was not aware of allegations that Thomas Markle Sr., the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, had engaged in child sexual abuse until the story appeared in a UK tabloid. The Sun reported that Markle's son, Thomas Markle Jr., discovered a large number of images he described as depicting abuse while sorting his father's belongings in Cebu, Philippines, and that he has reported the material to Philippine police and the FBI.
The 82-year-old Markle denied the accusations in a statement to the Daily Mail, saying he was "shocked, hurt and very upset" by his son's claims.
"Following the report, I made more than 40 phone calls to royal sources over the weekend, and nobody I spoke to had heard anything about these allegations before the story broke in The Sun," Kinsey Schofield, host of a YouTube program, told Fox News Digital.
Meghan Markle issued a statement expressing distress over the revelations and referencing a 2018 letter sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection that raised concerns about her father. The Metropolitan Police later confirmed that the letter was received in January 2019, not 2018, and that it was forwarded to the Sussex office but not shared with other law-enforcement agencies.
Philippine authorities, including the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police, said they are assisting U.S. investigators in examining the allegations. A spokesperson for the Philippine Interior Secretary confirmed that the police investigation is ongoing.
Royal experts indicated that the monarchy is likely to maintain distance from the Sussexes while the matter is investigated, and that King Charles III would avoid public comment. The Metropolitan Police said it is reviewing its handling of the 2019 letter and may refer the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Meghan's representatives noted that the Duchess is receiving support from family and friends as the investigation proceeds.