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The Duchess of Sussex wrote to her father last year to tell him she was aware of the sexual abuse allegations made against him and would never allow him to meet her grandchildren, it was reported.
Meghan told Thomas Markle, 82, that it was the last time she would contact him in the letter, which was allegedly sent while he was in hospital in the Philippines after having his leg amputated, sources close to her told the BBC.
Philippine authorities are currently investigating allegations that Meghan’s estranged father kept a trove of child sexual abuse images in his former home – claims he denies and calls a “load of lies.”
It is understood that details of the letter sent by Meghan, first reported in the Sun Sunday, included him telling her he would never meet his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, and her insisting she would never contact her father again. She also allegedly told him that the authorities were aware of the allegations against him.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Saturday that it had passed a letter containing allegations of alleged offenses outside the UK by Thomas Markle Sr to Meghan and her husband Prince Harry, but in a stunning admission said it had not passed the allegations to other relevant law enforcement agencies.
The force said it received a letter in 2019 regarding a “number of complaints” about Mr Markle, adding that it was “reviewing the handling of this matter”, including whether it should be referred to the police watchdog over his conduct.
On Friday, Meghan revealed she was made aware of “disturbing allegations” about her father in 2018. She said she was shown a letter sent to Scotland Yard eight years ago making “disturbing” allegations against Thomas Markle Sr and was assured they were being investigated.
A spokesperson for the Duchess of Sussex addressed the date discrepancies and said that if police had a time-stamped record confirming the letter was reviewed in 2019, then this “should be treated as the precise reference point for when it was received and shared with the Duchess”.
They said on Saturday afternoon that it was “understandable” due to the passage of time that Meghan “could have been a few months wrong”.
A Met Police spokesperson said on Saturday afternoon: “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 allegations relating to alleged offenses outside the UK.
“It was sent to the MPS Protection Command to raise concerns about the safety of the Duchess of Sussex. The letter was reviewed and it was decided that it should be forwarded to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their review.
“The details of the allegations contained in the letter have not been shared with other law enforcement agencies. The MPS is reviewing the handling of this matter in 2019 and is considering whether a referral to the IOPC Fund is necessary to review our approach.”
Mr Markle admitted paying for sex in the Philippines but continued to deny allegations he had a stash of child sexual abuse images.
According to The SunMeghan’s half-brother Thomas Markle Jr claimed he found a stash of images belonging to their father at his former home in the Philippines.
He reportedly told the country’s police that he discovered photos and videos of child abuse mixed with innocent family memories. The newspaper said he also contacted FBI investigators in the United States in July.
Philippine authorities said they were investigating the allegations.
In an interview with the Mail SundayThomas Markle Sr said he “never had sex with anyone under the age of 18”.
He told the newspaper that when he was single, he traveled to the Philippines at least twice and “slept with prostitutes.”
“I like Asian women but it’s not a crime,” he said.
“I don’t feel well enough to go to the Philippines but I will talk to anyone who wants to talk to me. I have nothing to hide.”
Mr Markle is learning to walk again at a Florida care facility after having his leg amputated in life-saving surgery in 2025.
He said he would also welcome any forensic examination of his computer, telling the Mail Sunday: “If there’s anything bad in there, it was put there by someone else.”
Mr. Markle’s eldest daughter, Samantha Markle, defended her father, telling the newspaper: “I believe this is a set-up.”
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