Philippine DOJ Probe: Duchess Says Father Allegations Reported in 2018

Philippine authorities have opened a formal investigation into Thomas Markle, father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, over reports that child sexual abuse materials were found in his home in Cebu province.

The Philippine News Agency, a state-run outlet, said in a Facebook post on Friday that the Department of Justice was examining reports involving an octogenarian American national who allegedly left child abuse videos and photos at his residence. A Filipino justice official told the agency that the department's anti-trafficking task force is handling the matter and confirmed that Thomas Markle Sr. is the subject of the inquiry.

Meghan said in a statement sent to CBS News on Friday that she is "deeply distressed" by the reports. She said she has known of allegations against her father since 2018, adding that a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection at that time. "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," she said. The Metropolitan Police said it was aware of media reports that officers from its Royalty and Specialist Protection Command helped pass on a 2018 letter and that it was undertaking internal enquiries to confirm the account. The force said it has not investigated Thomas Markle and is not currently doing so.

The Sun reported on Thursday that Thomas Markle Jr. reported his father to Philippine authorities after finding materials in storage boxes at the family home. The Daily Mail reported Friday that Markle denied the claims, saying, "I have never downloaded anything like that in my life," and calling them "sick lies." The Mail reported that Thomas Jr. made the discovery while his father was in the United States for treatment of a stroke and blood clot, and that he reported the materials to an FBI hotline, the National Center for Exploited and Missing Children and state police in Pennsylvania in July.

Meghan also addressed her estrangement from her father. "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 added that her "sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children." The Philippine Department of Justice investigation is ongoing.