Royal Family: Met Police Confirm 2019 Disclosure of Father's Allegations

The recent public revelation that the Duke of Sussex's father possesses images of child sexual abuse has prompted a formal review by the Metropolitan Police regarding how that information was handled more than seven years ago. The force has now confirmed that it possessed a letter from January 2019 containing allegations of offending against Thomas Markle Sr and that this document was shared directly with the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

The Met stated that the letter described claims of offending that occurred outside of Britain. While the document was sent to the Protection Command to raise security concerns for the Duchess, the force clarified that it was passed to the royal couple's office for their awareness but was not shared with other law enforcement agencies. This confirmation comes as the force conducts a thorough review of its systems and records to determine the best course of action regarding the 2019 decision.

The initial reports surfaced on Friday, citing The Sun newspaper, which noted that Meghan Markle's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, told detectives in the Philippines that he found a large collection of images at his former home in Cebu. Markle Jr, who is 60, reportedly discovered hundreds or potentially thousands of such images on computers and mobile phones stored in four large boxes. Markle Sr lived in that house until returning to the United States in May following a stroke. Markle Jr also said he contacted the FBI in the US about the findings.

Thomas Markle Sr has publicly denied the allegations, telling the Daily Mail that the accusations are sick lies. In response to the news, Meghan issued a statement through a spokesperson on Friday. She described herself as deeply distressed by the reports and 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 and that she was given assurances they were being investigated.

The Duchess stated that her decision to limit her father's contact with her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, was made solely to protect them. The family is currently estranged, and Markle Sr has never met his grandchildren. Harry and Meghan recently moved back to the United Kingdom from the United States. Initially, Meghan’s statement said the letter was sent in 2018, but she later corrected the date to 2019, noting that it is understandable to be mistaken by a few months when recalling events from over seven years ago without a contemporaneous record.

Sources indicated that although Meghan learned of the allegations in 2019, she could not speak publicly at the time to avoid jeopardizing any future investigation or facing legal action. The Met is now considering whether to refer the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. This ongoing review highlights the complex intersection of royal security and public health concerns for the working families and civil rights advocates watching the case unfold.