London [UK], October 26: Authorities in the Philippines said they are investigating allegations that Thomas Markle Sr, the father of Meghan Markle, wife of Britain's Prince Harry, had a hoard of child sex abuse images.
According to The Sun, Meghan's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, alleged that he found a stash of images belonging to their father at his former home in the Philippines.
He reportedly told police in the country that he discovered the child abuse pictures and videos mixed up with innocent family mementos.
The newspaper said he also contacted FBI investigators in the US in July.
Nicholas Ty, undersecretary for the Philippines Department of Justice, told ITV News: "Our Anti-Trafficking and Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children taskforce in Cebu is currently investigating the matter."
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Thomas Sr denied possessing child sex images, calling the accusations "sick lies." On Friday, Meghan said she was made aware of "disturbing allegations" about her father in 2018.
She said she was shown a letter sent to Scotland Yard eight years ago making "troubling" allegations against Thomas Markle Sr and she was assured that these were being investigated.
It is understood the Metropolitan Police has not previously, nor is the force currently, investigating Mr Markle.
The force said it is making internal inquiries regarding officers from the Met's Royalty and Specialist Protection Command being involved in the passing on of a letter.
The FBI said in a statement: "The FBI is aware of the allegations and will provide support, as appropriate, to the Philippine authorities.
"We will also investigate any related allegations of federal violations of US law." It is unclear what the nature of the allegations in 2018 were and whether they are linked to the accusations raised by his son now in 2026.
It is understood the letter sent to the Metropolitan Police was shared with Meghan in the summer of 2018, after her wedding to Harry.
Meghan became estranged from her former TV lighting director father in the run-up to her 2018 royal wedding after he was caught staging paparazzi photographs. Mr Markle did not attend the wedding, leaving the King to accompany Meghan down the aisle and meaning the only member of her family present was her mother, Doria Ragland. Meghan was the only child of Mr Markle's marriage to Ms Ragland, though he has two children - Samantha and Thomas Jr - from an earlier marriage. In 2021, Meghan won a High Court privacy and copyright claim against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over articles that reproduced parts of a "personal and private" handwritten letter she wrote to Mr Markle in a bid to get him to stop talking to the press.
Source: Qatar Tribune
