UK police revisit 2019 claims on Thomas Markle amid Philippine probe

In this screenshot, Thomas Markle, the estranged father of Duchess of Sussex Meghan, speaks in an interview with Australian morning show Sunrise in September 2021.

Sunrise on YouTube; Philstar.com screenshot

MANILA, Philippines — London's Metropolitan Police is reviewing how it handled allegations involving Thomas Markle in 2019, as Philippine investigators continue examining evidence recovered from his former home in Cebu.

The Met said it received a letter in January 2019 containing "a number of claims about alleged offending outside the United Kingdom."

The force reviewed the letter and passed it to the office of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, for their awareness, but did not share the allegations with other law enforcement agencies.

It is now reviewing how the matter was handled, including whether Britain's police watchdog should be called in.

Meghan said Friday, October 23, that she had been shown a letter containing "troubling and disturbing allegations" against her father and had been assured they were being investigated.

She initially said this occurred in 2018, but sources later clarified that she had misremembered the year and that the Met contacted her in 2019.

Laptop under examination

In the Philippines, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said police inspected Thomas Markle's former Cebu home after receiving a report from his son, Thomas Markle Jr.

"Found were a trove of child pornography materials as well as a laptop," Remulla told Agence France Presse.

The laptop is undergoing forensic examination, with results expected within a week.

Remulla separately told The Guardian that investigators were considering all angles because of the family dispute surrounding the allegations.

"Right now all signs point to a possible sex offender of the grossest kind. We want to be sure before we release the findings," Remulla said.

He stressed that forensic analysis was still needed to provide a "definitive picture."

The interior secretary earlier told Agence France Presse that Philippine authorities would pursue "appropriate legal actions" if investigators find sufficient evidence.

Thomas Markle had been living in Cebu before reportedly returning to the United States for medical treatment earlier this year.

British reports said Thomas Markle Jr. discovered alleged child sexual abuse images among belongings at his father's former residence and reported them to Philippine authorities.

Admission on paid sex

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation said it was aware of the allegations and would "provide support, as appropriate, to the Philippine authorities."

The FBI also said it would investigate any related allegations of violations of US federal law.

Thomas Markle has denied possessing child sexual abuse material, calling the accusations "sick lies."

He also told the Daily Mail that computers cited in the allegations had not been in his possession since he left Mexico with his son in 2025.

Meghan said she was "deeply distressed" by the allegations and hoped "justice will be fully served" while prioritizing the safety of children.

In a separate newspaper interview, Thomas Markle acknowledged that he had paid for sex while continuing to deny the child abuse allegations.

He told the Mail on Sunday, October 25 that he had "never had sex with anyone under the age of 18" and said that when he was single, he traveled to the Philippines at least twice and paid for sex.

UK-based Sky News, meanwhile, located Markle's former home in Cebu City describing it as a "fancy building."

"You've got marble floors, chandelier, it's not too far away from the sea front," Sky News reported. — with a report from Ian Laqui