Meghan cut off contact with her father Thomas Markle last year over sex abuse claims

Key Points:

• The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, wrote to her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr, last year informing him she knew about child sex abuse allegations against him and stating he would never meet his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
• Authorities in the Philippines are investigating claims that Thomas Markle Sr possessed child sex abuse images, allegations he denies and calls false; Meghan’s half-brother reportedly alerted police and the FBI after finding such images at their father’s former home.
• The Metropolitan Police received a letter in 2019 containing allegations against Thomas Markle Sr but only shared it with Meghan and Prince Harry, not other law enforcement agencies; the police are reviewing their handling of the case and considering referring it to the police watchdog.
• Meghan revealed she was made aware of the disturbing allegations in 2018 and was assured they were being investigated, though discrepancies exist regarding the exact timing of when the police received the letter.
• Thomas Markle Sr, recovering from leg amputation surgery in Florida, denies all allegations of child abuse, admits to paying for sex in the Philippines, and welcomes forensic examination of his devices; his daughter Samantha Markle claims the accusations are a setup.