Met Police sent 2019 abuse letter to Sussex office only
Scotland Yard confirmed it did not share the document with other law enforcement agencies during its initial review.
By Sakura Novak ·
The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Friday that it sent a 2019 letter containing allegations about Prince Harry’s father, Thomas Markle Sr, to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The letter detailed claims of alleged offending that occurred outside the United Kingdom. The force stated that it passed the information to the Sussex office for their awareness but did not send it to other law enforcement agencies.
The disclosure follows reports by The Sun newspaper that Meghan Markle’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, discovered images of child sexual abuse at his father’s former residence in the Philippines. Markle Jr, 60, told detectives in the Philippines that he found hundreds, if not thousands, of such images on computers and mobile phones stored in four large boxes in Cebu. Markle Sr lived in that house until he returned to the United States in May after suffering a stroke. Markle Jr also said he contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding the findings.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the force received the letter in January 2019. The document was sent to the Protection Command of the Metropolitan Police Service to raise concerns about the security of the Duchess of Sussex. The spokesperson added that the force carried out a thorough review of its systems and records. It is now reviewing how the matter was handled in 2019 and considering whether to refer itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Meghan Markle said through a spokesperson on Friday that she was deeply distressed by the news. She said her thoughts were with any children who may have been harmed. She confirmed that a letter containing troubling and disturbing allegations about her father had been shared with her. She stated that she was given assurances the claims were being investigated. She said her decision to keep her father from having contact with her children was made to protect them.
The Duchess of Sussex is estranged from her father, who has never met their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five. The couple recently moved back to the United Kingdom from the United States. Markle Sr denied the allegations in a statement to the Daily Mail, calling the accusations sick lies.
Meghan’s statement on Friday initially said the letter was sent in 2018. She later corrected this, confirming the year was 2019. A spokesperson said it was understandable she could be mistaken by a few months when recalling events from more than seven years ago without a diary entry or contemporaneous record. The spokesperson added that if the Met holds a time-stamped record showing the letter was reviewed in 2019, that should be treated as the accurate reference point.
Sources said Meghan could not speak publicly about the allegations in 2019 to avoid jeopardising a future investigation. They noted that speaking out could have led to legal action against her.
