Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, said on Friday that she was appalled by allegations surrounding her estranged father, which she said helped explain why she has kept her children away from him.
A British tabloid newspaper reported on Thursday that Thomas Markle was under investigation over claims by his son that he kept child abuse imagery at their shared home in the Philippines. Thomas Markle Jr. told The Sun that he was “horrified” by material he had found and “had no option” but to report his father to the police.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Philippines Department of Justice said that it was investigating the claims. Also on Friday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States said it would support an investigation by Philippine authorities where appropriate.
“We will also investigate any related allegations of federal violations of U.S. law,” the agency’s press office said in an email.
In an interview published by The Daily Mail on Friday, Mr. Markle said the claims were untrue. “I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me. I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of,” he told the paper.
Neither Thomas Markle nor Thomas Markle Jr. could be reached for further comment. » | Karla Adam | Karla Adam has covered Britain’s royal family for 20 years. | Friday, October 24, 2026
