Meghan Markle kaže da je znala o optužbama za dječju pornografiju protiv svog oca od 2018. godine

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, stated on Friday that she has known about allegations of child sexual abuse material involving her father, Thomas Markle Sr., since 2018. The duchess issued a formal statement revealing that a letter containing "troubling and disturbing allegations" against the 82-year-old was sent to the Metropolitan Police and its Royalty and Specialist Protection unit in the summer following her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry. Markle said the letter was subsequently shared with her by police, who assured her the matters were under investigation. She expressed deep distress over the recent revelation that her half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., found hundreds of such images at their father’s former residence in the Philippines. The allegations surfaced after Thomas Markle Jr., 60, told the Sun newspaper that he discovered "hundreds, if not thousands" of child sex abuse images stored in four large boxes at his father’s former home in Cebu, Philippines. Markle Jr. stated that he was horrified upon finding the material, which he said was mixed with innocent family mementos. He reported the discovery to local authorities and contacted Federal Bureau of Investigation agents in the United States in July. Markle Jr. told the publication that he has supported and cared for his father for years, but that his assistance has ceased. He declared he will not speak to his father again unless compelled to testify against him. Thomas Markle Sr. has vehemently denied the accusations. In an interview with the Daily Mail, he described the claims as "sick lies" and "bulls," stating he was shocked and hurt by his son’s statements. Markle Sr. asserted that he has never had sexual relations with anyone under the age of 18. However, he admitted that when he was single, he traveled to the Philippines at least twice and engaged in sexual acts with sex workers. He said he likes Asian women but emphasized that this preference is not a crime. Markle Sr., who is currently learning to walk again at a nursing facility in Florida after a leg amputation performed during life-saving surgery in 2025, said he has nothing to hide. He welcomed any forensic examination of his computer, suggesting that if illegal content exists, it was placed there by someone else. The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are conducting internal inquiries regarding officers from the Royalty and Specialist Protection command who may have been involved in passing the 2018 letter to Markle. The force stated it is looking to confirm the passing of the letter. Sources indicated that Markle was informed of the allegations in the summer of 2018, shortly after her wedding. Although she was aware of the claims, Markle said she was unable to speak publicly at the time to avoid jeopardizing potential investigations or facing legal action. The Metropolitan Police noted that it has not previously investigated Markle Sr., nor is it currently doing so. The FBI released a statement on Friday evening acknowledging awareness of the allegations. An FBI spokesman said the agency will investigate any related allegations of federal violations of U.S. law and will provide support to Philippine authorities as appropriate. In the Philippines, Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla announced that national police have seized Thomas Markle Sr.’s computer to conduct a full digital forensic analysis. Department of Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty stated that the matter is currently being investigated by an anti-human trafficking and child sexual exploitation task force. Markle used her statement to address the long-standing media narrative surrounding her estrangement from her father. She said that despite distortions by certain media publications over the years, her distance from Markle Sr. and her decision to prevent him from contacting their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, were made solely to protect them. She expressed trust that authorities were acting similarly for other families. Markle stated that while the scope of the newly uncovered material is more sickening than imagined, her hope is that justice will be fully served and the priority remains the safety of innocent children. The revelation challenges previous public accounts of the family rift. In 2018, Markle Sr. did not attend the wedding, citing health issues, after initially agreeing to walk his daughter down the aisle. Prince Harry later suggested in a 2022 Netflix documentary that the loss of their father was his fault, implying the separation was not due to criminal behavior. Social media users have raised questions about why Markle did not go public sooner to warn others, noting her advocacy for child welfare. Some critics questioned why Markle Sr. was not arrested if the allegations were known in 2018. Markle Sr.’s eldest daughter, Samantha Markle, defended her father against the new claims. The family’s legal and personal disputes continue as investigations proceed in both the United States and the Philippines.