Meghan Markle 'deeply distressed' amid report her father Thomas Markle Sr. is under investigation
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is speaking out over a report that her father, Thomas Markle Sr., is being investigated by authorities in the Philippines for allegedly possessing child sex abuse material following claims made by his son.
"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," Meghan said in a statement Friday.
According to The Sun, Meghan's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., reported their father to police in the Philippines alleging he found images in his father's phone and computers.
The Philippine News Agency, run by the country's government, said in a Facebook post Friday that the country's Department of Justice "is investigating reports involving an octogenarian American national who left child abuse videos and photos in his home in Cebu province."
Philippines DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Ty told the country's news agency that the department’s anti-trafficking and OSAEC (online sexual abuse and exploitation of children) task force "is currently investigating the matter" involving Thomas Markle Sr., according to the Facebook post.
The news agency also said Markle Sr. has since traveled from the Philippines to the U.S. for medical treatment.
ABC News has reached out to authorities in the Philippines for comment.
Markle Sr. has denied the allegations, telling the Daily Mail, they are "sick lies" and "the worst thing anyone could accuse me of." He also told the Daily Mail the computers had not been in his possession since he left Rosarito, Mexico, in January 2025.
"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," he told the outlet.
ABC News has not been able to reach Thomas Markle Sr. and Thomas Markle Jr. for comment.
Meghan, the wife of Prince Harry, with whom she shares two children, said in her statement that she first learned of allegations against her father in 2018, without providing any details about the nature of the allegations.
"In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. 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," Meghan said.
The Metropolitan Police Service told ABC News in a statement Friday, "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 FBI said Friday the agency is also “aware of the allegations” against Thomas Markle Sr.
"The FBI is aware of the allegations and will provide support, as appropriate, to the Philippine authorities," an FBI official told ABC News. "We will also investigate any related allegations of federal violations of U.S. law.”
The duchess has been estranged from her father since her 2018 wedding to Harry, which Thomas Markle Sr. did not attend after he was found to have been paid by paparazzi to pose for photos.
Harry's father, King Charles III, walked Meghan down the aisle at the couple's wedding at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, England.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
