Duchess Meghan “deeply distressed” as father Thomas Markle faces child sexual abuse materials investigation

Updated on: October 23, 2026 / 7:55 AM EDT / CBS News

London — Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, said in a statement sent to CBS News Friday that she was "deeply distressed" by reports that her father, Thomas Markle, is under investigation by authorities in the Philippines for alleged possession of child sexual abuse materials.

Meghan, who recently moved back to Britain with her husband Prince Harry and their children, said she had been aware of allegations against her father since 2018, and that those allegations were shared with U.K. authorities at the time.

"In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. That letter was subsequently shared with me. It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated," her Friday statement said.

CBS News has sought comment from the London Metropolitan Police regarding Meghan's statement.

Meghan said she had distanced herself from her father in an effort to protect her children.

"I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications' distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/world/