Meghan Markle has responded to allegations that her father, Thomas Markle Sr., is the subject of an investigation involving the alleged possession of child sexual abuse material.
Thomas Markle Jr., the Duchess of Sussex’s half-brother, told The Sun that he discovered what he described as “hundreds, if not thousands” of abusive images among his father’s belongings at the elder Markle’s home in the Philippines. He said he subsequently reported the alleged discovery to authorities.
“What I saw made me sick to the stomach—all this stuff was just dumped on me and I didn’t know what to do,” Thomas Jr. told the outlet. He said he understood immediately that the material was allegedly illegal and that retaining or disposing of it could have serious consequences. “I felt betrayed, angry and disgusted—and realized I had to report him,” he added.
Thomas Sr. has not been charged with a crime and has strongly rejected the accusations. Speaking to The Daily Mail, he called the claims “terrible lies.” His eldest daughter, Samantha, also defended their father, accusing Thomas Jr. of inventing allegations to attract media attention.
Meghan Markle Calls Allegations Against Her Father “Troubling and Disturbing”
Meghan has now addressed the increasingly bitter family dispute.
“I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours,” Meghan said in a statement to Oxygen. “My thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed.”
The Duchess said she was first made aware of “troubling and disturbing allegations” involving her father in 2018, the same period when their relationship became estranged.
“In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. That letter was subsequently shared with me,” Meghan said. She explained that the correspondence contained serious allegations about her father and that she had been assured they were being investigated. “I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications’ distortion over the years, any distance from my father, and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason: to protect them,” she added. “I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families.”
Meghan said her primary concern remains the welfare of anyone who may have been harmed by the alleged conduct.
“Although the breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine,” she said, “my sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children.”
Thomas Markle Jr. Claims to Have Discovered Child Sex Abuse Materials in His Father’s Possessions
Thomas Jr. told The Sun that he allegedly found four large boxes containing child sexual abuse material while searching through his father’s Philippine residence. Thomas Sr. had reportedly returned to the United States in May after suffering a blood clot and stroke that resulted in the amputation of his left leg.
Thomas Jr. said the discovery left him “horrified” and that he contacted both Cebu Police and the FBI. According to his account, authorities in both jurisdictions have opened investigations.
“I have supported, cared for him and helped him for years — but that stops now,” Thomas Jr. told the outlet. “I won’t speak to my father ever again unless I’m called to give evidence against him.”
The FBI confirmed that it was aware of the allegations in a statement provided to Oxygen.
“The FBI is aware of the allegations and will provide support, as appropriate, to the Philippine authorities,” the agency said. “We will also investigate any related allegations of federal violations of U.S. law.”
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The Philippines’ DOJ Secretariat of the National Coordination Center against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children and Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Materials (NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM) also told E! News that the matter was being reviewed.
“We confirm that the matter is under investigation,” the agency said in a statement. “However, pending such investigation, we are unable to provide further details at this time.”
Thomas Jr. claimed the material included “hundreds, if not thousands” of images, some of which he said were stored alongside family photographs and personal keepsakes. He alleged that the collection included a video depicting the sexual abuse of girls who appeared to be about 10 or 11 years old, books containing images of naked children, and material involving preschool-aged children.
“His desktop was full of row-upon-row of thumbnail pictures linking to the most sickening child abuse imaginable,” Thomas Jr. alleged. “The worst of the worst.”
Thomas Markle Sr. Denies Child Pornography Allegations
Thomas Sr., who is recovering at a rehabilitation facility in Florida following his leg amputation, has categorically denied the accusations made by his son.
“I’m shocked, I’m hurt and I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me,” the former Hollywood lighting engineer told The Daily Mail. “I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of.”
He insisted that the computers have not been in his possession since he moved with his son from Rosarito, Mexico in 2025.
“Those computers were boxed up in Mexico and put on a cargo ship which took months to get to the Philippines. I kept asking Tom for my computers but he wouldn’t give them to me,” he said. “Tom told me they were in the basement of an apartment block we were living in. I could never understand why he wouldn’t give them to me.”
He added that he didn’t know who had access to the computers when they were out of his possession.
“I have never downloaded anything like that in my life,” he told The Daily Mail, calling the allegations “terrible lies” that “are being made against me with no proof.”
Thomas Sr. said he welcomes an investigation into the material because he has done nothing wrong.
“I’m scared because I don’t feel safe any more,” he said. “People believe accusations, even if they are not true. This is the worst thing you can accuse someone of.”
His oldest daughter Samantha has also accused her brother of “making up lies” to get money.
“There is no merit in these disgusting allegations whatsoever and my brother is disgusting for making them up,” she told The Daily Mail. “He wants to destroy our dad. Shame on him.”