Meghan Markle’s strained relationship with her father, Thomas Markle Sr., has long drawn public attention.
However, a recent police confirmation has brought a disturbing new detail to light, raising questions about what the Duchess of Sussex knew and when she learned about it.
The development comes as her father faces separate allegations involving child s*xual a*use material, which he has strongly denied.
Highlights
- London's Metropolitan Police confirmed that it received a letter containing allegations of criminal activity in January 2019.
- Markle said she learned about the allegations years ago.
- Thomas Markle Sr. has strongly denied the allegations.
Authorities have now confirmed that a letter containing serious allegations against him reached Markle and Prince Harry’s office years ago.
Police confirmed letter containing disturbing allegations against Meghan Markle’s father
London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed that it received a letter in January 2019 containing allegations of criminal activity outside the United Kingdom.
The force’s Protection Command reviewed the letter before forwarding it to the office of Markle and Prince Harry.
According to a police spokesperson, the letter included several claims about alleged offending.
The spokesperson said, “Following a thorough review of Met Police systems and records, we have confirmed that in January 2019, we received a letter containing several claims about alleged offending outside the United Kingdom.”
“The details of the allegations in the letter were not shared with other law enforcement agencies,” they said.
The letter reportedly accused Thomas Sr. of s*xually a*using a child. According to a report by The Sun, its unidentified author also claimed that he had admitted to traveling to the Philippines and Thailand to a*use children.
These allegations have not been substantiated, and their inclusion in the letter does not establish that the alleged conduct occurred. Thomas Sr. has denied the accusations.
Police are now reviewing how the letter was handled and considering whether to refer the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Meghan Markle admitted that she learned about the allegations years ago
The police confirmation came shortly after Markle publicly addressed the allegations against her estranged father.
In a statement released Friday, the Duchess said she had learned about disturbing claims against him years earlier.
“In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. That letter was subsequently shared with me,” Meghan said.
She added that she had been assured the allegations were being investigated.
The police records, however, place the receipt of the letter in January 2019 rather than 2018.
A spokesperson for the Sussexes acknowledged, “In recalling events from more than seven years ago, without the benefit of a diary entry or contemporaneous record, it is understandable that she may have been mistaken by a few months.”
The representative added that if the police had a time-stamped record confirming the letter was reviewed in 2019, that should be treated as the accurate reference point.
The difference concerns the letter's timing, rather than whether Markle says she received it.
Police have confirmed that the letter was passed to the Sussexes’ office, but the available information does not establish what investigative steps the department took beyond its review.
Meghan Markle said the allegations influenced her decision to keep her children away from her father
Markle also explained why she had chosen not to allow her father to have contact with her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The Duchess has been estranged from Thomas Sr. since 2018, around the time of her wedding to Harry.
Their relationship became strained in the days before the wedding after Thomas admitted arranging staged paparazzi photographs of himself preparing for the event in Mexico.
He ultimately did not attend the ceremony, citing health problems, and King Charles walked Markle down the aisle instead.
Over the years, the breakdown in their relationship attracted considerable media attention.
Markle previously spoke about grieving the loss of her relationship with her father during her 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Now, she alleged the disturbing allegations she learned about were a key reason for keeping her children away from him.
“I hope it can now be understood that … any distance from my father and my choice not to allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason: to protect them,” she said.
Markle also expressed concern for any children who may have been harmed and said she hoped justice would be served.
The allegations in the earlier letter are separate from the more recent investigation involving material allegedly found at Thomas Sr.’s home in the Philippines.
Neither the letter nor the claims reported about the more recent investigation should be treated as proof of guilt.
Thomas Markle Sr. denied the allegations as his son reported material to authorities
The controversy has intensified following claims by Markle’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., who reportedly found hundreds or even thousands of images involving child s*xual ab*se among belongings at their father’s former home in the Philippines.
According to reports, Thomas Jr. discovered the material in boxes containing family keepsakes and turned it over to authorities.
He told The Sun, “When I found this material, I was horrified, and I had no option but to report my dad.”
Thomas Sr. has strongly denied the allegations and accused his son of trying to damage his reputation.
“I’m shocked, I’m hurt, and I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me,” he told the Daily Mail.
“I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of,” he added, calling the claims “sick lies.”
His half-daughter, Samantha Markle, has also defended him.
“There is no merit in these disgusting allegations whatsoever, and my brother is disgusting for making them up. He wants to destroy our dad. Shame on him,” Samantha told the Daily Mail.
Despite Thomas Markle Sr. denying allegations, questions about how the earlier letter was handled remain unanswered
The police confirmation has ignited questions about why the allegations in the 2019 letter were not shared with other law enforcement agencies.
Some sources have also questioned why authorities in the United States and Mexico were not alerted at the time, given that Thomas Sr. was reportedly living outside the United Kingdom.
However, a source familiar with the situation told Page Six that Markle did not have concrete proof of the allegations and that making them public could have jeopardized an investigation or exposed her to legal action.
The police have confirmed that the letter was reviewed and forwarded to the Sussexes’ office.
They also acknowledged that they did not share its details with other law enforcement agencies. They are now reviewing how the matter was handled and considering whether an independent conduct referral is appropriate.
Markle has said she is willing to assist investigators in pursuing justice for any victims.
"They'll go back vilifying her soon enough," wrote one netizen
