The Metropolitan Police confirmed it received a letter in January 2019 containing "a number of claims" about the Duchess of Sussex's father, Thomas Markle. Scotland Yard stated that the information, which related to alleged offending outside the United Kingdom, was passed to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their awareness.

The force emphasized that the specific details of the allegations within the letter were not shared with any other law enforcement agencies. This confirmation comes amid reports that images of child sexual abuse were allegedly found at Thomas Markle's former home in the Philippines. Mr. Markle, 82, who resides in the US, has denied possessing such images.

A spokesperson for the Duchess of Sussex acknowledged a "discrepancy of a few months" in the dating of the letter, explaining it as an "understandable consequence of that passage of time." The claims were initially reported by The Sun newspaper, which stated the letter included direct allegations of child sex abuse against Mr. Markle.

The Metropolitan Police is currently reviewing how the matter was handled in 2019 and is considering whether to refer its approach to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for review. The letter was reportedly sent to the MPS Protection Command to raise concerns regarding the security of the Duchess of Sussex.

Meghan, in a statement released on Friday, said she was informed of "disturbing allegations" about her estranged father in 2018 and was given assurances that they were being investigated. She expressed hope that her distance from her father and the decision not to allow him contact with their children would be understood in light of these claims.

Authorities in the Philippines have confirmed they are investigating the allegations against Thomas Markle. Reports indicate that an anti-human trafficking and child sexual exploitation task force is involved in the inquiry. Mr. Markle moved to the Philippines last year after suffering a series of strokes and is reportedly now in a Florida rehabilitation center following a leg amputation in 2025.

Meghan's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jnr., reportedly claimed to have discovered child abuse videos and pictures among items at his father's former Philippines residence. He is understood to have contacted the FBI in July regarding the discovery.

This situation brings renewed attention to the long-standing strained relationship between Meghan and her father, which has been a subject of public interest for several years.