Meghan Markle Reveals 2018 Tip to Police as Philippines Launches Probe Into Her Father

For followers of the Sussexes, the news that Thomas Markle is under formal investigation in the Philippines brings a new layer of scrutiny to a family that has long navigated intense public attention. The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan, stated on Friday that she is deeply distressed by the reports. She explained that she had been aware of the allegations against her father since 2018, a detail that significantly shifts the timeline of the family’s internal knowledge regarding the matter.

In a statement provided to CBS News, Meghan detailed the history of the reports. She noted that a letter containing troubling and disturbing allegations was sent to the Metropolitan Police and its Royalty and Specialist Protection Command in 2018. According to the duchess, this document was subsequently shared with her, and she was given assurances at the time that the claims were being investigated. This revelation suggests that the family had earlier notice of the issues now dominating headlines in Southeast Asia.

However, the official stance from the U.K. police appears to differ slightly from Meghan’s account. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed that the force was aware of media reports suggesting that officers from the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command helped pass along the 2018 letter. The spokesperson stated that the Met is currently undertaking internal enquiries to confirm these details. It is understood that the Metropolitan Police did not open a formal investigation into Thomas Markle at that time and is not currently conducting one.

The current probe is being led by authorities in the Philippines. The state-run Philippine News Agency confirmed on Friday that the Department of Justice is investigating an octogenarian American national. The reports allege that the individual left videos and photos of child abuse in his home in Cebu province. A Filipino justice official confirmed that Thomas Markle Sr. is the subject of this inquiry and that the department’s anti-trafficking task force is handling the case.

The allegations first gained public traction through reports from The Sun on Thursday. The tabloid cited Thomas Markle Jr., who reported that he found the materials in storage boxes at the family home. According to the Daily Mail, Markle Jr. made the discovery while his father was in the United States receiving treatment for a stroke and a blood clot. The younger Markle reportedly noticed some of the content after switching on an old cell phone at the residence.

Thomas Markle Jr. has denied that the materials were his father's. In a report by the Daily Mail on Friday, he was quoted as saying he had never downloaded such content in his life and dismissed the claims as sick lies. He is reported to have initially alerted the FBI hotline, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and state police in Pennsylvania in July regarding his findings.

Meghan also addressed the strained relationship with her father in her statement. She explained that her decision to distance herself from him and limit his contact with their children was driven by a single goal: protecting them. She expressed hope that this reasoning would now be clearly understood, noting that media distortions over the years had complicated the narrative. Her statement emphasized that her sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety of innocent children.