Duchess of Sussex ‘deeply distressed’ over child sexual abuse image claims against father

It is understood that authorities in the UK had previously told Meghan that allegations made about her father in a 2018 letter sent to Scotland Yard, and subsequently shared with her by the police, were being investigated. In a statement through her spokesperson, Meghan said: “I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed. That letter was subsequently shared with me.

It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated. Markle Sr has been estranged from the duchess since he failed to attend her wedding to Prince Harry on health grounds, and has never met his grandchildren, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five. The Sun reported that Markle Jr told detectives in the Philippines he had discovered “hundreds, if not thousands” of child sexual abuse images on computers and mobile phones stored in four large boxes at the home in Cebu where Markle Sr was living until he returned to the US in May after having a stroke.

Markle Jr, 60, said he had also contacted the FBI in the US, the Sun reported. Meghan’s father has vehemently denied possessing child sexual abuse images, telling the Daily Mail that the accusations were “sick lies”. He told the newspaper the computers had not been in his possession since he left Rosarito, Mexico, with his son in January 2025 and moved to the Philippines “for a fresh start”.

Speaking from a rehabilitation centre in Florida, where he is learning to walk with a prosthetic limb after his left leg was amputated because of a blood clot, he told the Mail: “I’m shocked, I’m hurt and I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me. I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of.

It’s just a bunch of lies. I have no idea why Tom is trying to destroy me with these lies.”