La police du Met a reçu une lettre au sujet du père de Meghan Markle en 2019

London’s Metropolitan Police has confirmed that it received a letter in January 2019 containing multiple claims regarding alleged criminal activity by Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, outside the United Kingdom. A spokesperson for the force stated on Saturday that the document was forwarded to the MPS Protection Command to address security concerns for the Duchess of Sussex. The police noted that while the letter was reviewed, the specific details of the allegations were not shared with other law enforcement agencies. This confirmation arrives amid fresh international investigations into claims that child sexual abuse material was discovered at Thomas Markle’s former residence in the Philippines. The Metropolitan Police statement clarified that the letter was passed to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex so they could take notice of the contents. However, the force acknowledged that no formal investigation into the claims within the letter appears to have been initiated at the time. In response to the renewed public attention, the Met announced it is currently reviewing how the matter was handled in 2019. The review includes an assessment of whether the case should be referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the United Kingdom’s independent body responsible for overseeing police conduct. Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, issued a statement on Friday expressing that she was deeply distressed by the current allegations. She disclosed that she had been informed by police in 2018 of disturbing and troubling allegations concerning her father. According to Meghan, she was assured at that time that the claims were under investigation. She stated that these prior warnings prompted her to block all contact between Thomas Markle and their children. A spokesperson for Meghan addressed a discrepancy in dates, noting that the Duchess may have been mistaken by a few months regarding when she was first notified, aligning her account closer to the police record of the letter arriving in early 2019. The current controversy stems from reports by British tabloids The Sun and the Daily Mail, which detailed that Thomas Markle’s son, Thomas Markle Jr., discovered hundreds, if not thousands, of images classified as child sexual abuse material in boxes at his father’s home in the Philippines. The Sun published a photograph purportedly showing Thomas Markle Jr. signing a sworn statement submitted to police. In that statement, the son declared he would not speak to his father again unless summoned to provide evidence against him. Authorities in the Philippines have confirmed that an investigation is underway. A police officer in Cebu City, speaking on condition of anonymity, verified that a probe is active. The investigation is being led by a brigade dedicated to the protection of women and children. Thomas Markle, 82, has categorically denied the accusations. In an interview with the Daily Mail, he described the allegations as sick lies and a pile of falsehoods. Reports indicate that Markle is currently staying in a rehabilitation center in Florida. Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States stated that it is aware of the allegations. An FBI spokesperson said the agency would provide support to the Philippine authorities as appropriate. The situation highlights the complex legal and personal dynamics surrounding the family. Prince Harry, the second son of King Charles III and the estranged brother of Prince William, married Meghan at Windsor Castle in May 2018. Thomas Markle did not attend the wedding, a absence that drew significant media scrutiny. The couple subsequently stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and relocated to the United States. They returned unexpectedly to the United Kingdom in August with their two children to reside there. There are conflicting accounts regarding the status of the 2019 letter. While Meghan stated she was told the allegations were being investigated, a source close to the matter claimed that the Metropolitan Police neither investigated nor is currently investigating her father based on that specific correspondence. The police statement did not explicitly confirm whether any investigative steps were taken beyond the initial review and forwarding of the letter to the royal household. The force emphasized that the primary concern raised by the letter related to the security of the Duchess of Sussex due to the nature of the alleged offending occurring abroad. The discovery of the images in the Philippines has triggered a multi-jurisdictional response. While the local police in Cebu handle the immediate investigation, the involvement of the FBI suggests potential cooperation between US and Philippine law enforcement bodies. Thomas Markle’s denial stands in direct contrast to the sworn testimony of his son and the physical evidence reportedly found in the home. The Metropolitan Police’s decision to review its past handling of the 2019 letter indicates internal scrutiny over whether the initial response met procedural standards, particularly regarding the sharing of intelligence with other agencies. The outcome of this review, and whether the police watchdog becomes involved, remains pending. For now, the focus remains on the ongoing inquiry in the Philippines and the personal fallout within the family, with Thomas Markle continuing to reject the charges leveled against him.