Police in the Philippines say they have discovered more than 7,000 suspected child sexual abuse images on devices allegedly linked to Thomas Markle Snr, the estranged father of the Duchess of Sussex.
Philippine officials said the files included one video and depicted underage boys and girls of Asian, Latin American and European backgrounds. Some of those shown were reportedly as young as 10 or 11.
Jonvic Remulla, the Philippines’ interior and local government secretary, described the material as “the most deplorable displays of impunity towards sexual activity that I have ever seen”.
Speaking at a press conference in Manila, Mr Remulla also said Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, had been designated a “person of interest” in the investigation involving his father.
He said there were “signs that point that the son is involved in the crime as well”, while stressing that Mr Markle Jr was not currently being treated as a suspect.
Mr Markle Jr was the person who initially contacted Philippine police and the FBI after claiming he had discovered a large collection of images among his father’s belongings.
Thomas Markle Snr, who has been estranged from Meghan for years, has since been placed in a dementia care home. His condition has raised concerns about whether FBI investigators will be able to question him.
Mr Remulla said: “We’re determining if son is involved… There are signs that point that the son is involved in the crime as well but only as a person of interest so far.”
Meghan has been estranged from her father Thomas Markle Snr (pictured in 2011) for years
Meghan’s half-brother Thomas Markle Jr is pictured walking with his partner Rose in the Philippines in May 2025. There is no suggestion she is involved in the police inquiry
“We will know in the next few days,” he added.
Mr Remulla also confirmed that Mr Markle Jr remained in Cebu City.
He told reporters: “We have witnesses that underaged girls are brought to his house and we are following it up.”
However, Mr Remulla again emphasised that Mr Markle Jr was “only a person of interest so far – he is not yet treated as a suspect”.
The Sun, which has been speaking with Mr Markle Jr for several weeks, later reported that the allegation involving underage girls came from a neighbour who had seen young relatives of Mr Markle Jr’s Filipina partner at the property.
According to the newspaper, his partner of two years, Rose, told police that her siblings, aged 11, 14, 16 and 17, regularly visited the home, along with her three-year-old niece.
She reportedly showed officers TikTok videos filmed by herself and her siblings inside and outside the property.
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The investigation expanded as the FBI was urged to search a third set of storage containers in Los Angeles that allegedly belonged to Meghan’s father.
The development followed the discovery last week by Our News Outlet of another suspected collection of child sexual abuse material in a storage unit in Rosarito, Mexico, where Mr Markle Snr had previously lived.
One image reportedly showed him on a bed with his arm around a young Asian woman, with both appearing fully clothed. In other photographs, the woman reportedly appeared alone and naked.
Thomas Markle Snr is pictured with a mystery young woman in his belongings in a storage unit
The moment last December when Thomas Markle Snr is given a letter from Meghan in hospital
Mexican investigators raid Thomas Markle Snr’s storage locker in Rosarito last Saturday
Mr Markle Jr has since asked the FBI to examine his father’s storage units in Los Angeles. “I dread to think what the FBI might find, especially given what has already been found in the Philippines and Mexico,” he said.
The Philippine National Police previously said that videos allegedly showing child sexual abuse and exploitation were among files recovered from four storage boxes reportedly belonging to Mr Markle Snr. The boxes were examined after Mr Markle Jr made his report.
Major General Wilson Asueta of the Philippine National Police said earlier this week that ownership of the devices had not yet been established. The items included nine mobile phones, three SD cards, five hard drives and a camera.
Mr Markle Snr, now living in a dementia care home in Florida after returning to the United States in May, has admitted paying for sex in the Philippines. He has denied ever possessing child sexual abuse material.
Meghan, who moved back to the UK with Prince Harry in August, said she was “deeply distressed” by the allegations involving her father. The pair have been estranged since the period leading up to her 2018 wedding.
She has said that, in 2019, she received a letter through the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection containing “troubling and disturbing allegations” about her father. She was reportedly assured that the claims were being investigated.
The Metropolitan Police has acknowledged that it did not pass the details to other law enforcement agencies. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is now examining the force’s handling of the matter.
Sources said the duchess had wanted to speak publicly after reading the letter but was advised by police not to do so immediately.
When Mr Markle, a former television lighting director, had his leg amputated in the Philippines last year, he appealed publicly for Meghan to contact him.
Meghan is understood to have sent him a final letter stating that she knew he was an abuser and that he would never meet his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Mr Markle Snr has rejected all allegations against him, calling them “sick lies”. Mr Markle Jr has been contacted for comment by Our News Outlet.
