Metropolitan Police Review Handling of Thomas Markle Abuse Allegations
2019 child abuse claims against Duchess of Sussex's father prompt internal police review amid conflicting accounts of official actions and family disputes.
Carla Rooney
A 2019 letter reporting alleged child abuse by Thomas Markle was sent to the Metropolitan Police.
This correspondence, sent to the MPS Protection Command, raised concerns about the Duchess of Sussex's security. Police reviewed the letter, then passed it to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
The Duchess of Sussex stated she learned of allegations against her father in 2019. She received assurances at the time that authorities were investigating the claims.
However, the Metropolitan Police contend they alerted Meghan Markle to the allegations a year after her stated timeline. A spokesperson for the Duchess addressed this discrepancy, stating, "In recalling events from more than seven years ago, without the benefit of a diary entry or contemporaneous record, it is understandable that she may have been mistaken by a few months."
The spokesperson added, "If the MPS holds a time-stamped record confirming that the letter was reviewed in 2019, that should be treated as the accurate reference point for when it was received and shared with the duchess."
The Metropolitan Police did not share the details of the allegations with other law enforcement agencies. Separately, Thomas Markle Jr. contacted the FBI in the US regarding the claims.
The FBI is aware of the allegations. The agency offers support to Philippine authorities and investigates any related federal violations of US law.
Thomas Markle Jr. claims he found child abuse images on computers his father left behind in the Philippines. Thomas Markle Sr. admitted paying for sex in the Philippines but denied sleeping with underage girls, stating, "I like Asian women but that is not a crime."
I like Asian women but that is not a crime.
Markle Sr. also stated, "If there is anything bad on there, it was put there by someone else." He offered to take a lie detector test, adding, "I am not well enough to go to the Philippines but I will speak to anyone who wants to talk to me. I have nothing to hide."
Samantha Markle, Thomas Markle's daughter, accused her brother, Thomas Markle Jr., of fabricating allegations for financial gain. She stated, "I believe this is a set-up."
Roslyn Loveless, Thomas Markle's first wife, reportedly wrote the letter to the Metropolitan Police. Loveless described Thomas Markle as an 'awful father' and stated he should never meet his grandson Prince Archie.
Thomas Markle married Roslyn Loveless from 1964 to 1975. He and Doria Ragland had Meghan Markle in 1981. Meghan has been estranged from her father since 2018 and reportedly warned him in a letter that he would never meet his grandchildren.
Thomas Markle is recovering in a nursing facility in Florida after his leg amputation in 2025. He has reportedly been diagnosed with dementia. Philippine authorities are analyzing digital images allegedly belonging to Thomas Markle Sr.