A 2018 letter sent to Scotland Yard alleging that Meghan Markle’s father sexually abused a child has been confirmed as genuine, prompting renewed questions about whether the Metropolitan Police took action.
The confirmation follows the Duchess of Sussex’s disclosure yesterday that she learned of the “troubling and disturbing” allegations soon after her marriage to Prince Harry and was told they were being investigated.
However, the Metropolitan Police said on Friday that it could not establish whether officers had passed the letter to Meghan, despite her account that it was shared with her.
The document was reportedly sent to the Met’s Fixated Threat Assessment Centre, or FTAC, a specialist unit responsible for assessing potential threats against members of the Royal Family and other prominent figures. It allegedly accused Thomas Markle Snr of sexually abusing a child.
The writer also claimed that the 82-year-old had admitted travelling to Thailand and the Philippines to abuse children.
The Sun is said to have obtained a copy of the letter, confirming that it exists after Meghan publicly referred to the allegations.
The document has reportedly since been provided to police, who are carrying out internal inquiries to determine whether it was given to the Duchess in 2018.
Meghan Markle pictured with her father, Thomas Markle, in 2011. The pair have been estranged since 2018
The development follows the Duchess of Sussex’s revelation that she was told about the “troubling and disturbing” allegations
Meghan’s brother Thomas Markle Jr (pictured above) claimed he discovered the child abuse material
In a statement, the Met said: “We are aware of media reports that officers from the Met’s Royalty and Specialist Protection Command were involved in passing on a letter in 2018.
“We are undertaking internal inquiries in an effort to confirm this.”
Our News Outlet understands that the Met has never previously investigated Thomas Sr and is not currently conducting an investigation into him.
The force has also not confirmed whether any information was referred to law enforcement authorities overseas.
One source told The Sun: “Questions must be asked about whether the Met ever acted on the information contained in the letter.
“They promised Meghan they were investigating, but nothing appears to have been done at all.”
The latest claims follow allegations that Mr Markle kept boxes containing child sexual abuse images at his former residence in the Philippines.
His son, Thomas Markle Jnr, has reportedly accused him of possessing the material. Mr Markle Snr has vehemently denied the allegations.
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Meghan said in a statement this morning: “I am deeply distressed by the news that has come to light over the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed.
“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.
‘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 our children, was for one reason: to protect them.
The letter is believed to have been sent to the Duchess during summer 2018, soon after she married Harry in May that year at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle (pictured)
Thomas Sr recovering in a hospital bed after surgery in the Philippines last December
Samantha Markle, left, pictured with her father Thomas Sr and brother Thomas Jnr
‘I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families.
‘Although the breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine, my sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children.’
The 82-year-old is facing ‘sickening’ allegations that he possessed a horde of child sex abuse material which included videos of girls under 12 involved in sex acts.
Meghan’s half-brother Thomas Markle Jr made allegations overnight that he had found a large stash of child sex abuse images on computers and phones in four large storage boxes ‘left behind’ by Thomas Sr when he moved back to the US from the Philippines earlier this year.
The material is said to have been discovered in his home in the Philippines.
A specialist unit is investigating the claims in the Philippines, while the FBI has also been made aware of the allegations and is thought to be considering its own probe.
It was confirmed today that the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the Philippines is investigating reports involving ‘an American national in his 80s’ who is accused of leaving child abuse videos and photos in his home in Cebu province.
Mr Markle, a former Hollywood lighting director, has strongly rejected the allegations, describing them as ‘sick lies’ and ‘the worst thing anyone could accuse me of’.
Speaking to Our News Outlet, he said: ‘I’m shocked, I’m hurt and I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me.’
The Duchess has been estranged from her father since her wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018, with Mr Markle never having met the couple’s two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
