Meghan Markle was sent a letter containing child sexual abuse allegations against her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., in January 2019, London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed Saturday.
Scotland Yard acknowledged the letter, which accused Thomas Sr., 82, of sexually abusing a child, was received by its Protection Command before being forwarded to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s office for their awareness. “Following a thorough review of Met Police systems and records, we have confirmed that in January 2019, we received a letter containing a number of claims about alleged offending outside the United Kingdom,” a police spokesperson said.
“The details of the allegations in the letter were not shared with other law enforcement agencies,” the spokesperson added. Police are now reviewing how the matter was handled and considering whether to refer it to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
The police confirmation followed Meghan’s own statement Friday, in which she disclosed she had been made aware of “troubling and disturbing” allegations against her father years earlier. “In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. That letter was subsequently shared with me,” she said in the statement.
The Duchess, 45, claimed she was assured the accusations were being investigated and explained that her estrangement from her father was intended to protect her children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5.
A spokesperson for the Sussexes later acknowledged a discrepancy between Meghan’s recollection and police records. “In recalling events from more than seven years ago, without the benefit of a diary entry or contemporaneous record, it is understandable that she may have been mistaken by a few months,” they said.
“If the MPS holds a time-stamped record confirming that the letter was reviewed in 2019, that should be treated as the accurate reference point for when it was received and shared with the Duchess,” the spokesperson continued. “I think it is reasonable to recognize that she is doing her best to recall the precise timing of events that were not diarized at the time, and that any discrepancy of a few months is an understandable consequence of that passage of time.”
The letter’s contents included claims that Thomas Sr. Had admitted traveling to the Philippines and Thailand to abuse children which reported obtaining a copy. The allegations have not been substantiated.
Thomas Sr. Has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them “sick lies.” “I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of,” he said. “This is bulls–t. It’s just a bunch of lies. It’s sick. I have no idea why Tom is trying to destroy me with these lies.”
The “Tom” referenced is Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., who recently accused their father of possessing a massive collection of child sexual abuse images at his former home in the Philippines. Thomas Jr. Claimed to have discovered the material among his father’s belongings and reported it to authorities.
Meghan’s half-sister, Samantha Markle, has defended their father and accused Thomas Jr. Of fabricating claims for personal gain. “There is no merit in these disgusting allegations whatsoever and my brother is disgusting for making them up. He wants to destroy our dad. Shame on him,” she said Thursday.
Questions have emerged about why authorities in the US and Mexico were not alerted to the allegations at the time. A source explained that Meghan lacked concrete proof and feared that speaking publicly could jeopardize an investigation or expose her to legal action.
Meghan has said she is willing to assist investigators in pursuing justice for any victims.
