Meghan Duchess of Sussex says she knew of father's alleged CSAM case in 2018

The Department of Justice in the Philippines has opened an investigation into Thomas Markle Sr., the father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, regarding allegations of child sexual abuse material possession. The state-run Philippine News Agency confirmed on Friday that the probe is active. It stated that the department's anti-trafficking task force is handling the matter. The investigation concerns an American national in his eighties who allegedly left videos and photos of child abuse in his residence in Cebu province.

Markle Sr. denied the claims in an interview with the Daily Mail on Friday. He stated that he has never downloaded such material in his life. He described the accusations as sick lies. The allegations were first brought to public attention by The Sun on Thursday. The newspaper reported that Thomas Markle Jr., the duchess's younger brother, filed a report with Philippine authorities. He allegedly discovered the materials in storage boxes at the family home.

According to The Daily Mail, Thomas Jr. made the discovery while his father was in the United States receiving treatment for a stroke and a blood clot. He reportedly found the files after turning on an old cell phone at the Cebu residence. In July, he contacted the FBI hotline, the National Center for Exploited and Missing Children, and Pennsylvania state police. He reported the materials to these U.S. agencies at that time.

Meghan issued a statement to CBS News on Friday describing herself as deeply distressed by the reports. She said she had been aware of the allegations against her father since 2018. Her statement noted that a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command in that year. The letter contained troubling and disturbing allegations against her father. She said she received assurances that the matter was under investigation.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said the force was aware of media reports regarding the 2018 letter. The spokesperson stated that officers from the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command helped pass the letter along. The Met is undertaking internal enquiries to confirm the details. It is understood that the Metropolitan Police has not investigated Thomas Markle and is not currently doing so.

Meghan also addressed the distance between herself and her father. She stated that she chose to limit his contact with their children to protect them. She said that media distortion over the years had obscured this reasoning. She expressed the hope that justice would be fully served and that the priority would remain the safety of innocent children.

The Philippine investigation focuses on the Cebu property where Markle Sr. resided. The anti-trafficking task force is the specific unit assigned to the case. Thomas Markle Jr. remains the individual who initiated the reporting process to both local and U.S. law enforcement agencies. The duchess's statement provided the first direct account of her awareness of the allegations prior to the current Philippine inquiry.

The next step involves the Philippine Department of Justice reviewing the evidence presented by Thomas Markle Jr. The U.S. agencies contacted in July have not yet announced a separate case number or public status update. The Metropolitan Police continues its internal review of the 2018 correspondence. Markle Sr. is currently the subject of the active Philippine probe.