British police confirm they received child pornography allegations against Meghan Markle's father in 2019

London police confirmed on Saturday that they received a letter in January 2019 containing allegations regarding the possession of child sexual abuse material by Thomas Markle Sr., the estranged father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. The Metropolitan Police stated that while the document was forwarded to the couple’s office for their awareness, the specific details of the claims were not shared with other law enforcement agencies. This admission comes days after the publication of new claims by Markle’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., who alleges he discovered hundreds of such images at his father’s former residence in the Philippines. The sequence of events began on Thursday when The Sun newspaper published an exclusive report detailing the accusations brought by Thomas Markle Jr. According to the tabloid, the younger Markle told police that he found "hundreds, if not thousands" of child sex abuse images stored in four large boxes at his father's previous home in the Philippines. The Sun also published a photograph purportedly showing Thomas Markle Jr. signing a sworn statement submitted to authorities. In that statement, he reportedly declared that he would not speak to his father again unless compelled to provide evidence against him. Following the initial report, Meghan released a statement on Friday expressing her reaction to the disclosures. She described herself as "deeply distressed" by the news emerging in the preceding twenty-four hours and directed her thoughts toward any children who might have been harmed. The Duchess revealed that she had been aware of similar allegations since 2018. She explained that a letter had been sent to the Metropolitan Police and the Royalty and Specialist Protection unit during that year. Meghan stated that the letter contained "troubling and disturbing allegations" against her father and that she was subsequently assured by officials that these matters were under investigation. The Metropolitan Police clarified the timeline and handling of the correspondence on Saturday. A spokesperson for the force said that a thorough review of internal systems and records confirmed the receipt of the letter in January 2019. The document was delivered to the Metropolitan Police Service Protection Command to raise concerns specifically related to the security of the Duchess of Sussex. After review, a decision was made to pass the letter to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex so they could take notice of its contents. However, the police emphasized that the detailed allegations within the letter were not communicated to any other law enforcement bodies. This confirmation highlights a discrepancy in dates between the Duchess’s account and the police records. Meghan indicated she learned of the allegations in 2018, whereas the police identified the receipt of the letter as occurring in January 2019. When asked about this difference, a spokesperson for Meghan suggested that she may have been mistaken by a few months. The Metropolitan Police statement did not specify whether an active investigation was launched based on the 2019 letter or if any further operational steps were taken beyond sharing the document with the royal couple. Currently, the Metropolitan Police is reviewing how the matter was handled in 2019. The force is considering whether to make a formal referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct to examine its approach to the case. A source close to the file previously asserted that the Metropolitan Police neither conducted nor is currently conducting an investigation into Thomas Markle Sr. in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, investigations continue abroad. Authorities in the Philippines confirmed that an inquiry is underway. The Department of Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty stated that the matter is being examined by an anti-human trafficking and child sexual exploitation task force. Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla added that national police have seized items from Thomas Markle Sr.’s property. A separate police source noted that the Philippine investigation is distinct from the historical correspondence held by British police. Thomas Markle Sr., an American photographer aged 82, has categorically denied possessing illegal imagery. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he dismissed the accusations as "sick lies." His estrangement from his daughter has been a subject of public interest for several years. Notably, he did not attend Meghan’s wedding to Prince Harry in 2018, an absence that drew significant media attention at the time. In her statement, Meghan addressed the long-standing narrative surrounding her family dynamics. She argued that past media portrayals of her distant relationship with her father should now be viewed in light of the current revelations. She stated that her decision to limit contact with him was motivated solely by the desire to protect her children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five. Neither child has met their grandfather. Meghan expressed hope that justice would be fully served and that the primary focus would remain on the safety and protection of innocent victims. The couple, who recently relocated from the United States back to the United Kingdom, have faced intense scrutiny following these developments. The situation has placed renewed pressure on both the royal household and the policing bodies involved in the protection of senior members of the family. As the independent review of police conduct proceeds, attention remains divided between the ongoing legal proceedings in the Philippines and the internal inquiries within the Metropolitan Police.