The Duchess of Sussex revealed that her decision to keep her children away from Thomas Markle was motivated by a desire to protect them, as new allegations involving her estranged father emerge.
Meghan Markle is opening up about one of the most painful chapters of her family history. The Duchess of Sussex has revealed why her father, Thomas Markle Sr., has never met her two children with Prince Harry, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5.
© Getty ImagesIn a statement released on Friday, October 23, the former actress explained that her decision to maintain a distance between her children and their maternal grandfather was rooted in what she described as a need to protect them.
The revelation comes amid disturbing new allegations involving her 82-year-old father, who has been estranged from Meghan since around the time of her royal wedding in 2018.
Meghan reveals the allegations she learned about in 2018:
According to a statement shared with People, Meghan was informed of troubling allegations involving her father shortly after her May 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.
© GC ImagesShe explained that a letter had been sent to London's Metropolitan Police and its Royalty and Specialist Protection unit before being shared with her.
"It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated," Meghan said.
My choice to not allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason: to protect them.
The Duchess also addressed the public speculation surrounding her estrangement from Thomas Markle, explaining that her decision to prevent him from having contact with Archie and Lilibet was made for "one reason: to protect them."
According to People, a source familiar with the situation said the allegations were unsubstantiated at the time and that Meghan had been advised against discussing them publicly because doing so could jeopardize a potential investigation.
New allegations emerge against Thomas Markle:
Meghan's statement follows reports that her half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., alerted authorities after allegedly discovering a collection of child sexual abuse material among their father's belongings at his former home in Cebu, Philippines.
© Backgrid/The Grosby GroupAccording to The Sun, Thomas Jr. claimed to have found hundreds, potentially thousands, of images stored among computers and other possessions. He reportedly contacted authorities in both the Philippines and the United States.
On October 23, Philippine Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty confirmed that a task force investigating human trafficking and online child sexual abuse in Cebu was examining the matter, according to Reuters.
© Getty ImagesThomas Markle Sr. has strongly denied the allegations. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said, "I could never do what I'm being accused of," adding that he was shocked and upset by his son's claims. The allegations have not been established as fact, and no finding of wrongdoing has been reported.
What authorities have said:
The Metropolitan Police has clarified that it is not currently investigating Thomas Markle Sr. and has not previously investigated him. However, the force is conducting internal inquiries to determine whether officers from its Royalty and Specialist Protection Command were involved in passing the 2018 letter to Meghan.
© Backgrid/The Grosby GroupIt also remains unclear whether the allegations referenced in that letter are connected to those currently being examined in the Philippines.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment when asked whether King Charles had been aware of the letter, describing the situation as a matter for the Sussexes.
A complicated family history:
Meghan and her father have had a strained relationship for more than eight years. Their estrangement became public in the weeks leading up to her wedding to Prince Harry, when Thomas Markle was involved in a controversy surrounding staged paparazzi photographs.
© JONATHAN BRADYAlthough he had initially been expected to walk his daughter down the aisle at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, he ultimately did not attend the ceremony. King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, accompanied Meghan for part of her walk to the altar.
Their relationship remained fractured in the years that followed. During her widely watched 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan spoke about the emotional impact of the estrangement, declaring, "I've lost my father."
© Yaroslav Sabitov - PA ImagesIn December 2025, however, the Duchess reportedly attempted to reconnect with Thomas after learning that he had undergone a leg amputation. Her spokesperson subsequently confirmed that a letter from Meghan had reached him, although its contents were not disclosed.
Despite that attempted contact, Thomas has never met Archie or Lilibet. For Meghan, the latest developments have brought renewed attention to a family relationship that has remained a deeply personal and public source of controversy.
In her October 23 statement, she expressed concern for any potential victims and said her hope was that justice would be served, with the safety of children remaining the priority.
