Meghan Markle says she’s 'deeply distressed' in response to child pornography allegations against her father

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has shared her reasons for keeping her children away from her estranged father, Thomas Markle, citing the potential harm of disturbing allegations discovered in 2018. The Duchess revealed her decision to maintain distance was aimed at safeguarding her children, particularly following reports of alleged child sexual abuse images found at Thomas' former home in the Philippines.

Thomas Markle has denied possessing such images. In a statement, Meghan expressed deep distress at the news, emphasizing her trust in authorities to take appropriate action and her hope for justice to be served. The allegations reportedly originated from Thomas Markle Jr., who found the images and alerted the police. The Philippine Department of Justice and national police are currently investigating the matter, with forensic results anticipated within a week.

Despite the ongoing investigation, the Metropolitan Police is conducting an internal inquiry into how the 2018 letter detailing the allegations reached Meghan. Thomas Markle, 82, has denied the allegations. Meghan's relationship with her father soured before her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, leading to his non-participation and subsequent move to the Philippines.

The couple, along with their children, returned to the UK in August 2025, though the investigation into the allegations remains active.