October 23, 2026, 6:26 a.m. ET
Duchess Meghan is speaking out about the police investigation into her estranged father Thomas Markle, who is reportedly under investigation for an alleged stash of child sexual images.
The duchess said she was first informed of the “disturbing allegations” against her father in 2018 and expressed hope that people would finally understand why she had had no contact with the 82-year-old.
“I am deeply distressed by the news that has come to light over the past 24 hours and my thoughts are with all the children who may have been harmed,” Meghan said in a statement shared on Friday (October 23).
The statement comes after The Sun newspaper reported on Thursday (October 22) that police were investigating Meghan’s father over dozens of child sexual images allegedly discovered inside his Philippines home by his son, Thomas Jr.
In the lengthy statement, the Duchess said the reason she hadn’t had a relationship with her father for several years stemmed from a desire to protect her children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, from their maternal grandfather.
“In 2018 a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royal and Specialist Protection. This letter was then shared with me. It contained disturbing and worrying allegations against my father and I was assured that they were being investigated,” she said.
“I hope we can now understand that, despite the distortion of certain media publications over the years, any distance from my father and my choice not to allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason only: to protect them.
Meghan said she “trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families.”
The FBI is set to launch its own investigation into Markle, who now lives in the United States, the Sun reported.
“While the scale of what has been uncovered is more sickening than anyone could ever imagine, my sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children,” the statement concluded.
This is a developing story.
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