Meghan Markle father controversy: Why are Philippines authorities investigating Duchess of Sussex father? Here is what Prince Harry's wife has to say about the matter

Controversy surrounding Meghan Markle father has erupted again as authorities in the Philippines are investigating Thomas Markle after allegations he possessed child sexual abuse images, the Philippine justice undersecretary said on Friday. Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry's wife Meghan said today that she was "deeply distressed" by accusations and had blocked contact between him and her children over previous "troubling and disturbing" allegations.

The Sun, Daily Mail and Telegraph newspapers reported very profession that images had allegedly been found among her estranged father Thomas Markle's possessions at his former home in the Philippines. He denies all the claims. After the reports, Meghan revealed that in 2018 she had seen a letter sent to London's Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection making similar accusations.

Meghan Markle Father


Harry, the second son of King Charles III and estranged brother of heir to the throne Prince William, married the former American actress at Windsor Castle in May 2018. Thomas Markle, a former TV lighting director did not attend.


Meghan and Harry have two children -- Archie and Lilibet.

The duchess said she hoped it could "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".

The couple left Britain and quit royal duties in 2020 amid a bitter royal family feud. They made an unexpected return with their children to live in the United Kingdom in August.


What is Controversy?

AFP has reached out to the police in the Philippines and London for a comment, as the Daily Mail said it was Thomas Markle's son, Meghan's half-brother Thomas Markle Jr, who had discovered the images and reported it to the Filipino police.

"Our Anti-Trafficking and Anti-OSAEC (online sexual abuse and exploitation of children) task force in Cebu is currently investigating the matter," Nicholas Ty, Philippine justice undersecretary, told Reuters.

Thomas Markle Sr., a retired television lighting and photography director, did not attend the wedding, prompting extensive coverage in the British media of Meghan’s estrangement from her father. While some reports suggested she had shunned him in favor of her new royal status, Meghan said her decision to distance herself was intended to protect her children.

Thomas Markle Sr. was living in the Philippines earlier this year when he suffered a stroke and had his left leg amputated. That forced him to return to the U.S.

Thomas Markle pulled out of Harry and Meghan's wedding due to heart surgery amid a furore after he was found to have received payment for staged paparazzi photographs.


It later emerged that father and daughter remained estranged and that Markle had never met his grandchildren. In December, however, a spokesperson for Meghan said she had been in touch with her father who was in a Philippines hospital after having a leg amputated.

In 2021, Meghan won a UK High Court privacy and copyright claim against Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers over articles that reproduced parts of a "private" letter she wrote to him, asking him to stop talking to the press.