Philippines Opens Inquiry Into Father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, expressed deep distress on Friday regarding an active investigation in the Philippines concerning her father, Thomas Markle Sr. The Duchess issued a statement confirming her awareness of allegations against her father dating back to 2018, a time when she was told such matters were being looked into by law enforcement in the United Kingdom.

The Duchess stated that in 2018, correspondence containing troubling allegations was directed to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. She noted that this letter was subsequently shared with her. "It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated," she said. She added that her primary concern remains the safety of innocent children, stating her sincerest hope that justice will be fully served.

Official confirmation of the current inquiry arrived from Philippine state media. The state-run Philippine News Agency reported that the Department of Justice is examining reports concerning an octogenarian American national. The agency stated that the department's anti-trafficking task force is handling the matter regarding Thomas Markle Sr. and that the investigation is focused on his residence in Cebu province.

The inquiry stems from reports that Thomas Markle Jr. reported his father to authorities. It is alleged that the younger man discovered child abuse materials in storage boxes at the family home. Reports indicate that Thomas Markle Jr. accessed an old cell phone at the residence while his father was in the United States receiving medical treatment for a stroke and blood clot.

The timeline of events places the discovery of the materials in July, at which point Thomas Markle Jr. is said to have reported them to an FBI hotline, the National Center for Exploited and Missing Children, and state police in Pennsylvania. Thomas Markle Sr. has denied the allegations, telling reporters he has never downloaded material of that nature and dismissing the claims as sick lies.

Regarding the Metropolitan Police, a spokesperson for the force stated it is undertaking internal enquiries to confirm if officers from its Royalty and Specialist Protection Command helped pass on the 2018 letter. It is currently understood that the Metropolitan Police has not investigated Thomas Markle and is not conducting such an investigation at this time.

The Duchess also addressed her estrangement from her father, explaining that she distanced herself from him to protect her children. "I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications' distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason: to protect them," she said.