Thomas Markle Sr, the estranged father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has admitted to paying for sex during visits to the Philippines but has denied allegations that he possessed child sexual abuse images. Markle, 82, is under investigation by Philippine authorities after his son, Thomas Markle Jr, alleged that he discovered a collection of child sexual abuse images and videos at his father’s former home in the country, BBC reported.
The FBI has confirmed it is aware of the matter. Philippine authorities have confirmed that they are investigating the allegations. In a statement released on Friday, she said her thoughts were with any children who may have been harmed.
He also reportedly contacted the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about the allegations in July. She has since had little contact with him and does not allow him to meet her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Meghan has been estranged from her father since 2018, when he pulled out of her wedding to Prince Harry, citing health problems. The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Saturday that it had received a letter containing several claims about Markle in 2019.
Markle Jr told police that he found the material mixed with family photographs and other personal belongings, according to reports. Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla said the national police had secured Markle’s computer for a digital forensic examination. The development comes as Meghan said she was deeply distressed by the allegations against her father. “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,” she said. The force said it shared the letter with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the time and is now reviewing how it handled the matter.
He said he now believed he had been protecting the wrong person.
Meanwhile, Markle Jr has apologised to Meghan for previously siding with their father during the family’s long-running estrangement.
