Meghan Markle has said she is “deeply distressed” by allegations that her estranged father, Thomas Markle, possessed indecent images of children, adding that she refused to let him meet her children to protect them.
The allegations were reported to detectives by Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, after he allegedly found the material at their father’s home in the Philippines. No charges have been laid.
Thomas Markle, 82, has described the claims as “sick lies”, while his other daughter, Samantha, said there was “no merit to these disgusting allegations”.
Meghan Markle says allegations were raised in 2018
The Duchess of Sussex said she had been aware of the allegations for years. She said a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection in 2018, and was later shared with her.
“It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated,” she said.
Meghan added: “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 she had trusted authorities to provide the same protection to other families and expressed hope that justice would be served, with the safety of children remaining the priority.
“Although the breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine, my sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children,” she said.
Meghan is understood not to have spoken to her father for eight years, following his failure to attend her wedding. She has never allowed him to meet Archie and Lilibet.
Thomas Markle is said to be in a stroke rehabilitation facility in the United States.
