Who is Meghan Markle’s father? What are the ‘disturbing allegations’ against him?

Thomas Markle Sr., the father of Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is facing allegations involving child sexual abuse images. Meghan said her half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., claimed to have discovered “hundreds, if not thousands” of such images at their father’s former home in the Philippines. Markle Sr. has denied the allegations, describing them as “sick lies” in an interview with the Daily Mail.

In a statement, Meghan said she was deeply distressed by the reports and expressed concern for any children who may have been harmed. “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,” she said.

Meghan added that authorities had informed her about the allegations through a letter in 2018, the year she married Prince Harry. “I was given assurances that these were being investigated,” she said.

What are the allegations against Thomas Markle Sr.?

According to reports, Thomas Markle Jr. contacted police after allegedly discovering the images while searching through boxes containing his father’s belongings. He was reportedly looking for items belonging to his girlfriend’s father when he came across the material.

Markle Jr. subsequently submitted a statement to police in the Philippines, saying he felt compelled to report his father.

“When I found this material I was horrified and I had no option but to report my dad. I have supported, cared for him and helped him for years – but that stops now. I won’t speak to my father ever again unless I’m called to give evidence against him,” he said.

What has Meghan Markle said about the allegations?

Meghan said the reports had brought renewed attention to her estranged relationship with her father. She also addressed speculation about why she has kept her distance from him and chosen not to allow him contact with her children.

“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 also expressed hope that justice would be served, stressing the importance of protecting children.

Meghan and her father have been estranged for years, with their relationship deteriorating around the time of her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.

Who is Thomas Markle Sr.?

Thomas Wayne Markle Sr. is an American retired television lighting director and director of photography. He worked in television production for several decades and received industry recognition for his work, as per information posted on Wikipedia. Markle won a Chicago/Midwest Emmy Award for his work on Made in Chicago in 1975. He also shared Daytime Emmy Awards associated with his work on the television soap opera General Hospital in 1982 and 2011.

His youngest child is Meghan Markle, who became the Duchess of Sussex after marrying Prince Harry in May 2018.

Markle married Roslyn Loveless in 1964. They had two children, Samantha Markle and Thomas Markle Jr. Their marriage later ended in divorce.

In 1979, he married Doria Ragland. Their daughter, Rachel Meghan Markle, was born on August 4, 1981. Markle and Ragland later divorced.

Markle's relationship with Meghan became strained in the lead-up to her wedding. He had initially been expected to walk his daughter down the aisle but withdrew after suffering health problems. The relationship deteriorated further after he acknowledged staging paparazzi photographs before the wedding.

In May 2018, days before Meghan's wedding, Markle suffered two heart attacks and underwent heart surgery, according to reports.

He has faced further health complications in recent years, including a leg amputation. Reports have also described changes in his living arrangements and his move to the Philippines.