Meghan ‘wanted to go public’ with child sex abuse claims against her father Thomas Markle in 2019 – but Met royal bodyguards ‘advised her not to’
Meghan Markle reportedly wanted to speak publicly after learning of allegations of child sexual abuse against her father, Thomas Markle, but a Metropolitan Police royal protection officer advised her to leave the matter to police. The claims have renewed scrutiny of how the force handled a letter sent to the Duchess in 2019 and whether it should have referred the allegations to other authorities.
The seven-page letter, written by Thomas Markle’s former wife Roslyn Loveless, alleged abuse and claimed he travelled to the Philippines and Thailand because he believed sex with 12-year-olds was legal there. The Met confirmed it passed the letter to the Sussexes’ office for awareness, but did not investigate allegations said to have taken place abroad; it has referred itself to the police watchdog over not passing them to relevant overseas authorities. The article also reports that police recently seized child sexual abuse material from an abandoned storage unit linked to Thomas Markle.
In short
- Meghan reportedly wanted to speak out about allegations against her father.
- A royal protection officer advised her to leave the matter to police.
- The Met referred its handling of the 2019 letter to the watchdog.
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The case for
The Met officer’s advice may have been intended to protect a sensitive police process: a public statement could have compromised inquiries, risked spreading unverified allegations or affected the privacy of potential victims. Passing the letter to the Sussexes’ office may also have been a way to ensure Meghan was informed while leaving investigative decisions to police.
The case against
Allegations involving child sexual abuse are serious, and the Met’s role may reasonably be questioned if it received detailed claims but did not alert authorities with relevant jurisdiction. Referring itself to the watchdog suggests a legitimate concern that the information should have been passed on, and advice against speaking publicly should not substitute for appropriate safeguarding or referral.
Explained simply
The Metropolitan Police is the force responsible for policing London and protecting members of the Royal Family. Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, was a working member of the Royal Family in 2019; her father, Thomas Markle, lives separately from her.
The allegations described in the report were made in a letter by Thomas Markle’s former wife, Roslyn Loveless. They concern alleged abuse abroad, and are allegations rather than findings of guilt. The Met says it passed the letter to the Sussexes’ office but did not investigate events said to have happened overseas.
Police handling matters because information about suspected child abuse may need to be shared with authorities able to investigate it. The Met has referred its handling of the letter to the police watchdog, which oversees complaints and conduct involving police forces in England and Wales.