Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has spoken out after allegations involving her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., prompted an investigation by Philippine authorities. The case has drawn renewed attention to a family rift that has lasted for years, with Meghan describing herself as “deeply distressed” and raising questions about allegations she says were brought to the attention of British police in 2018.
The latest developments involve two separate inquiries, one in the Philippines and another in the UK. While investigators examine the current allegations, the Metropolitan Police is looking into whether officers were involved in passing an earlier letter to Meghan. Thomas Markle Sr. has denied the allegations, describing them as “sick lies,” and no publicly announced finding has established his guilt.
Philippine Authorities Investigate Allegations Involving Thomas Markle Sr.
The Philippines Department of Justice confirmed on October 23, 2026, that authorities are investigating allegations concerning Thomas Markle Sr., Meghan’s father.
Nicholas Ty, a Philippine justice undersecretary, told Reuters that the government’s Anti-Trafficking and Anti-OSAEC (online sexual abuse and exploitation of children) task force in Cebu is handling the investigation.
The matter emerged following claims reportedly made by Thomas Markle Jr., Meghan’s half-brother. According to reports, Markle Jr. told authorities about material he said he encountered among belongings at his father’s former residence in Cebu, Philippines.
Philippine Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla also told Reuters that Markle Jr. had provided police with evidence, including a laptop. Remulla said Thomas Markle Sr. was believed to have returned to the United States after previously living in Cebu.
However, the investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have not publicly announced forensic findings confirming the allegations, and no criminal conviction has resulted from the claims.
The distinction matters: an investigation does not establish that an alleged offence occurred or prove that the person being investigated was responsible.
Another Royal Family Relationship Under Scrutiny
Royal family relationships have frequently attracted public attention, including reports about Queen Camilla’s relationship with Prince Harry. For a separate account of that subject, explore reporting on Queen Camilla’s reported reaction to Prince Harry.
What Was Reportedly Found at the Former Cebu Home?
The allegations were first publicly reported by The Sun, which detailed claims by Thomas Markle Jr. concerning material he said he discovered among belongings at his father’s former home in the Philippines.
The Guardian reported that Markle Jr. told investigators he had found material on electronic devices stored among belongings at the Cebu property. Reuters subsequently reported that he had provided Philippine police with evidence, including a laptop.
Investigators now face questions about the reported material, the electronic devices involved and their connection to the property.
The reported contents of the devices and their connection to Thomas Markle Sr. have not been established as facts by a court or through publicly released forensic findings.
Consequently, the allegations should not be presented as proof that Markle Sr. possessed, created, downloaded or distributed illegal material. Those questions remain for investigators to examine.
Thomas Markle Sr. Calls the Allegations ‘Sick Lies’
Thomas Markle Sr. has strongly denied the allegations, rejecting the suggestion that he possessed the material.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, he described the accusations as “sick lies.”
CBS News reported that Markle Sr. also said:
“I have never downloaded anything like that in my life.”
The Guardian reported that he said he was shocked and upset by the accusations and disputed his son’s account. He also maintained that the computers in question had not been in his possession since he left Mexico and moved to the Philippines in 2025.
His statements represent his denial, rather than an independent determination of what the evidence shows.
The Philippine investigation is expected to examine the devices and other available evidence to establish what material exists, how it became associated with the property and whether any criminal offence occurred.
FBI Acknowledges the Allegations
The case has also drawn the attention of US authorities.
The FBI said it was aware of the allegations and would support Philippine authorities where appropriate. The bureau also said it would investigate related allegations involving potential violations of US federal law.
That statement does not mean the FBI has determined that Markle Sr. committed a federal offence. It indicates that the agency is aware of the matter and may become involved where US federal jurisdiction is relevant.
Reuters reported that Thomas Markle Jr. contacted the FBI after making his allegations to authorities in the Philippines.
For now, the Philippine investigation remains central to determining what the available evidence can establish.
Meghan Markle Reveals She Was Told About Allegations in 2018
Alongside the investigation in the Philippines, Meghan’s statement has revived questions about a separate development dating back to 2018.
The Duchess said a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection that year. She said the letter was subsequently shared with her and contained:
“troubling and disturbing allegations against my father”
Meghan also said she had been given assurances that the allegations were being investigated. She said she became aware of the letter after her wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018.
However, the full nature of the allegations in that letter has not been publicly established. The Independent reported that it remains unclear what the 2018 allegations specifically concerned or whether they were connected to the claims now being investigated in the Philippines.
This is a crucial distinction. Meghan’s statement establishes that she says she received information about allegations against her father in 2018. It does not establish that those allegations were proven or that they were the same as the allegations that emerged in 2026.
Metropolitan Police Conducts Internal Inquiry Into the 2018 Letter
The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that it is making internal inquiries into the handling of the earlier letter.
A Met spokesperson said:
“We are aware of media reports that officers from the Met’s Royalty and Specialist Protection Command were involved in the passing on of a letter in 2018. We are undertaking enquiries internally in an effort to confirm this.”
The force has not said that it is investigating Thomas Markle Sr. over the current allegations.
Instead, the internal inquiry concerns whether officers from the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command were involved in passing the 2018 letter to Meghan. The Independent reported that the Met confirmed it was not investigating Markle Sr. in relation to the allegations Meghan referred to in her statement.
The two inquiries therefore have different purposes:
| Authority | Focus of inquiry |
| Philippine authorities | Current allegations involving material reportedly found among belongings at the former Cebu residence |
| FBI | Awareness of the allegations, potential assistance to Philippine authorities and possible US federal-law issues |
| Metropolitan Police | Whether officers from its Royalty and Specialist Protection Command were involved in passing the 2018 letter to Meghan |
The Metropolitan Police inquiry does not establish that the earlier allegations were proven, nor does it confirm a connection between the letter and the current Philippine investigation.
Meghan Explains Why She Kept Her Father Away From Her Children
Meghan’s statement also addressed her longstanding estrangement from her father and her decision not to allow him contact with her children.
She said:
“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 added:
“I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families.”
Meghan said her thoughts were with any children who may have been harmed. She also expressed hope that justice would be served and that children’s safety and protection would remain the priority.
Her comments explain her stated reasons for maintaining distance from her father and preventing contact with her children. They do not independently establish the truth of the current allegations.
Meghan and Thomas Markle’s Estrangement Dates Back to 2018
Meghan and Thomas Markle Sr. have been estranged since the period surrounding her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.
Markle Sr. did not attend the wedding after health problems and amid controversy preceding the ceremony. According to The Guardian and other established outlets, he has not met Meghan and Harry’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The family relationship had attracted extensive public attention for years before the current allegations emerged.
Meghan’s latest statement places that estrangement in the context of her account of the 2018 letter and the assurances she says she received about an investigation.
Nevertheless, the public record provided does not establish that the allegations in the letter were proven or that they were the same allegations now being examined by Philippine authorities.
Thomas Markle Jr. and Samantha Markle Offer Conflicting Accounts
Thomas Markle Jr.’s claims are central to the current investigation, but his account remains an allegation that investigators must independently assess.
Reuters reported that he provided Philippine authorities with evidence, including a laptop. Investigators will need to establish the origin and ownership of the electronic material, who had access to the devices and whether any recovered material constitutes evidence of a criminal offence.
Samantha Markle, Meghan’s half-sister, has defended their father and rejected Thomas Markle Jr.’s allegations in comments reported by the Daily Mail.
She disputed the suggestion that the devices were under their father’s control and argued that they may have been outside his possession for an extended period.
Those claims are also disputed and have not been independently established. Samantha Markle’s comments form part of the competing accounts surrounding the evidence, rather than an official finding about what happened.
The questions surrounding ownership, access and the reported material remain unresolved publicly.
Where Is Thomas Markle Sr. Now?
Thomas Markle Sr. is currently in the United States, according to reporting cited by Reuters.
Philippine Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Markle Sr. was believed to have returned to the US after previously living in Cebu.
The Guardian reported that he is undergoing rehabilitation in Florida following serious health problems, including the amputation of his left leg after a blood clot.
His location is relevant because the allegations concern material reportedly found at his former residence in Cebu, rather than material that authorities have publicly said was recovered from his current home in the United States.
As of October 24, 2026, no publicly released forensic findings have established that Markle Sr. possessed the alleged material or committed a criminal offence.
What Happens Next in the Thomas Markle Investigation?
The immediate focus is on the Philippine investigation and the examination of the evidence reportedly provided to authorities.
The specialist task force will assess the available evidence and determine whether the allegations can be substantiated and whether they support further criminal proceedings. The FBI may assist Philippine authorities and examine any potential federal-law issues within its jurisdiction.
Separately, the Metropolitan Police will continue its internal inquiries into the handling of the 2018 letter and whether officers from its Royalty and Specialist Protection Command were involved in passing it to Meghan.
For the Duchess, the developments have renewed attention on her longstanding family estrangement. Her statement makes clear that she says protecting her children was the reason she chose not to allow her father contact with them.
A Separate Development at Highgrove
Reports have also described a gesture between Queen Camilla and Prince Harry during a meeting at Highgrove. Read the report on Camilla’s reported olive branch to Harry for that separate development.
Conclusion
Meghan Markle’s statement has brought renewed attention to both the current investigation involving her father and questions surrounding a letter she says she received in 2018. Philippine authorities have confirmed that a specialist task force is investigating, the FBI has acknowledged awareness of the allegations, and the Metropolitan Police is examining the handling of the earlier letter.
Thomas Markle Sr. has denied the allegations, describing them as “sick lies.” With the investigation ongoing and no publicly announced finding establishing his guilt, the reported claims must remain allegations unless substantiated through the appropriate legal process.
Source Disclaimer
This article has been prepared following research into the sources provided, including Reuters, CBS News, The Guardian, The Independent and the Daily Mail. It reflects the information and statements available in the supplied material as of October 24, 2026. The allegations and investigations described remain subject to further examination, and this article does not imply independent verification beyond what those sources and statements support.
Sources
- Reuters: Philippine authorities investigate Thomas Markle
- CBS News: Duchess Meghan says she is “deeply distressed” as father faces investigation
- The Guardian: Meghan says she is “deeply distressed” over allegations involving her father
- The Independent: Metropolitan Police says it is not investigating Thomas Markle
Featured Image Credit: Genevieve / derivative work: Firebrace / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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