Urgent.News

What's breaking now, across thousands of outlets.

World

Met Police received letter about Meghan Markle's father in 2019

It comes after Meghan, Duchess of Sussex revealed on Friday she was informed in 2018 about "disturbing allegations" against her father, Thomas Markle, which prompted her to keep her children away from him.

Met Police received letter about Meghan Markle's father in 2019

In 2019, the Metropolitan Police in London received numerous claims regarding Meghan Markle's father, Thomas Markle. The force forwarded the information to the royal couple but did not disclose it to other law enforcement agencies. Meghan Markle, 45, disclosed in a recent statement that she was deeply distressed by allegations that her father possessed child abuse images. She decided to block contact between her father and her children due to these troubling allegations.

The Sun and Daily Mail newspapers claimed that images were allegedly found among Meghan Markle's belongings at her former residence in the Philippines. Markle also mentioned receiving a letter from the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection in 2018 with similar accusations.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed they reviewed a letter containing claims about alleged offenses outside the United Kingdom in January 2019. The letter was passed on to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their awareness. Markle claimed she was assured that the allegations against her father were being investigated, although sources close to the matter stated that the police were not involved in the investigation.

Thomas Markle, now reportedly in a rehab center in Florida, called the allegations "sick lies." A police officer in Cebu City, Philippines, on condition of anonymity, mentioned an ongoing investigation. The FBI in the United States stated they were aware of the allegations and would provide support to Philippine authorities as needed.

Prince Harry, the second son of King Charles III and estranged brother of the future king, Prince William, married Markle, an American former actress, in May 2018. The couple left Britain and retired from royal duties in 2020 but unexpectedly returned to the United Kingdom with their two children in August.

Written by urgent.news from RTE News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

This story

This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.

Read the original at abc.net.au →

More in World

More from Saturday 24 October →