'Prince Harry's Father-in-Law' Accused of Possessing Large Cache of Child Sexual Abuse Images... Philippines Investigates

Meghan Markle: "I Kept My Distance to Protect the Children"

Meghan Markle, wife of Prince Harry of Britain, is reportedly deeply shocked by allegations that her father, Thomas Markle, possessed child sexual abuse material.

Britain's Prince Harry (right) and Meghan Markle. AP-Yonhap News.

According to British media outlets, including The Guardian, on Oct. 23 (local time), Nicholas Tay, an undersecretary at the Philippine Department of Justice, said a task force addressing human trafficking and online child sexual abuse and exploitation in Cebu, in the central Philippines, was investigating the matter. The allegations against Thomas came to light after his son and Meghan's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., found images of child sexual abuse and reported them to Philippine police and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Thomas Markle Jr. reportedly found hundreds of images of child sexual abuse in a box while clearing out his father's former home in Cebu, where Thomas had lived for many years. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla also said Thomas Markle Jr. had provided police with evidence, including a laptop, to support the allegations.

In a statement, Meghan said, "I was deeply shocked by the news that has come to light over the past 24 hours. My heart goes out to any children who may have been harmed." She added, "In 2018, a letter was delivered to the Metropolitan Police and the unit responsible for protecting the royal family and other prominent figures, and it was later shared with me. The letter contained deeply shocking and concerning allegations about my father, and I was told by the authorities that they were investigating them."

She continued, "Although some media outlets have distorted the facts over the years, I hope people will understand why I distanced myself from my father and did not allow him to have contact with my children. It was a decision made solely to protect them." Meghan added, "I hope justice is fully served and, above all, that the safety and protection of innocent children are given the highest priority."

Thomas Markle Jr., who reported his father to the authorities, also told Britain's The Sun, "I've supported, cared for and helped my father for years, but that's over now." He said he would never speak to him again, except if summoned by the authorities to testify.

Thomas, who is reportedly staying at a rehabilitation facility in Florida, claimed in an interview with Britain's Daily Mail that the allegations were "disgusting lies." Meghan's half-sister, Samantha Markle, also told the Daily Mail that Thomas Markle Jr.'s claims were false and motivated by money.

In 2018, ahead of the wedding of Meghan and Prince Harry, the second son of Britain's King Charles III, Thomas caused a controversy by accepting money from paparazzi to stage photographs of his daughter's wedding preparations. He did not attend the wedding. After losing contact with Meghan, he criticized the British royal family in media interviews. As Meghan has said, he has reportedly never met the grandchildren his daughter gave birth to.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.