October 25: Meghan Markle Responds to Allegations Against Her Father

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, said Friday that she was “deeply distressed” after a British newspaper published allegations that her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., possessed child sexual abuse images. Markle Sr., 82, has denied the allegations. News reports have not indicated that he has been charged with any crime.

A Statement and a Denial

The allegations were first published Thursday by The Sun, which reported claims made by Meghan Markle’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., 60. He told the paper that he had found material on his father’s devices and reported it to authorities, including the FBI. The Sun reported that the FBI had confirmed receiving his sworn statement. The FBI has not publicly commented on whether an investigation is underway. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Markle Sr. denied the allegations and called them “sick lies.”

In her statement, Meghan said her thoughts were with “any children who may have been harmed.” She also said that in 2018 a letter containing “troubling and disturbing allegations” about her father was sent to London’s Metropolitan Police and the royal protection unit, that the letter was later shared with her, and that she was assured the claims were being investigated. She said she had trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families. The Metropolitan Police had not publicly responded to her account at the time of reporting.

Meghan and her father have been estranged since shortly before her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry. He withdrew from the ceremony after it emerged that he had arranged staged paparazzi photos, and King Charles, then Prince of Wales, walked her down the aisle instead. Markle Sr. and his son have both spoken to the press many times since then. Many questions remain unanswered, including whether any authority is actively investigating the claims. This is a developing story, and the allegations have not been proven.