Meghan says she is distressed by allegations against her father, who denies them
Meghan Markle says she is “deeply distressed” by allegations that her father, Thomas Markle Snr, possessed child sexual abuse images. She says a letter containing troubling allegations was sent to the Metropolitan Police and royal protection officials in 2018, then shared with her, and that she was told they were being investigated. Meghan says she kept her father from meeting her children to protect them and hopes justice is served.
The allegations were made by Meghan’s half-brother, Tom Jr, who told The Sun he found hundreds of images on computers and a phone in storage boxes. Thomas Markle strongly denies possessing the images, calling the accusations lies, and disputes who had access to the devices after they were moved from Mexico to the Philippines. The article says he is the subject of a child sex investigation and is recovering in a Florida rehabilitation centre after his left leg was amputated.
In short
- Meghan says allegations about her father were reported to police in 2018.
- She says she kept her children away from him to protect them.
- Thomas Markle denies the allegations made by his son.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The allegations are serious, and Meghan’s account suggests they were reported to authorities and considered troubling enough to investigate. A parent may reasonably prioritise children’s safety while allegations are unresolved, and a thorough inquiry could help establish the facts and protect any potential victims.
The case against
Thomas Markle denies possessing the images and disputes the account of who had access to the devices, so the allegations should not be treated as established fact. A fair process requires investigators to test the claims and the evidence carefully, while recognising the harm that can follow from public accusations before findings are made.
Explained simply
Meghan Markle is a member of the British royal family through her marriage to Prince Harry. Her father, Thomas Markle Snr, lives apart from her, and their relationship has been strained since before her 2018 wedding; he has not met her children.
The allegations concern images said to have been found on electronic devices belonging to Thomas. They were made by Meghan’s half-brother, Tom Jr, and Thomas denies them. The dispute over who used or had access to the devices is central to the competing accounts.
The Metropolitan Police is London’s police force, and royal protection officials provide security for members of the royal family. The account of a letter sent to them in 2018 places the allegations in the context of a reported investigation and a family dispute over contact with Meghan’s children.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Meghan Markle says she’s ‘deeply distressed’ by child pornography allegations against father Thomas and reveals letter with ‘disturbing’ claims were passed to Met Police in 2018”.