Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, said she was “deeply distressed” by claims that her father had images of child abuse. She said she had kept him away from her children because of earlier allegations.
The Sun, the Daily Mail and the Telegraph reported that the images were allegedly found among Thomas Markle’s belongings. The items were reportedly at his former home in the Philippines. He denies all the claims.
“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.
She said that in 2018 she saw a letter sent to London’s Metropolitan Police and to Royalty and Specialist Protection. She said the letter made similar accusations against her father.
“It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated,” she said.
The PA news agency reported that Meghan saw the letter in mid-2018, after her wedding to Prince Harry.
Meghan said she hoped people would now understand why she kept her distance. She said her choice to stop him from seeing her children “was for one reason: to protect them”.
“My sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children,” she added.
Thomas Markle reportedly now lives in a rehab centre in Florida. He told the Daily Mail the claims were “sick lies” that left him “shocked” and “hurt”.
According to the Daily Mail, his son Thomas Markle Jr found the images. The newspaper said he reported them to police in the Philippines. AFP said it had asked police in the Philippines and London for comment.
Harry and Meghan have two children. Archie is seven and Lilibet is five. Meghan’s father has never met his grandchildren.
Harry, the second son of King Charles III, married the former American actress at Windsor Castle in May 2018. Thomas Markle, a former TV lighting director, did not attend.
He pulled out of the wedding because of heart surgery. This came after it emerged he had been paid for staged paparazzi photos.
In 2021, Meghan won a UK High Court privacy and copyright case against Associated Newspapers, the Daily Mail’s publisher. The case was about articles that printed parts of a private letter she wrote to her father.
In December, a spokesperson for Meghan said she had been in touch with her father. He was in a hospital in the Philippines after having a leg amputated.
The couple left Britain and gave up royal duties in 2020. They returned with their children to live in the United Kingdom in August.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Entertainment. Image: IOL Entertainment. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Entertainment desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Rirhandzu Baloyi writes about entertainment for Tzaneen Voice. Rirhandzu covers South African music, film, TV, streaming, awards and celebrity news, from amapiano and local soapies to Showmax and Netflix releases. Stories stick to what happened, who was involved and when fans can watch or listen.