The Gist
Meghan Markle shared a statement about her father Thomas Markle Sr. on October 23.
In the statement, she revealed that she has known about allegations made against him since 2018.
Amid these allegations, she chose to keep her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, away from her father.
Meghan Markle has made a statement regarding the “disturbing allegations” against her father, Thomas Markle, involving the possession of explicit images involving children. In her October 23 statement, Meghan revealed that she had purposefully kept her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, away from her father after learning about the allegations in 2018 to “protect them.”
“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,” Meghan said in the statement shared to People.
Meghan Markle with her kids Archie and Lilibet.
Credit: Meghan Markle/Instagram
On October 22, Meghan’s 82-year-old father was reported to be under investigation after Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, claimed to have found “hundreds, if not thousands” of explicit images involving children in his Thomas’s home in the Philippines. Thomas Jr. proceeded to report the images to the police and the FBI, per The Sun.
“I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed,” she said in the same statement.
Meghan revealed that she was first made aware of the allegations about her father in 2018 after she and Harry married in May of the same year.
Thomas Markle Jr. in 2019.
Credit: Getty
“In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection,” she said. “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 trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families,” she continued, before concluding, “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.”
Thomas Sr. has denied the allegations, telling The Daily Mail, “I’m shocked, I’m hurt, and I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me. I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of.”
“This is bullshit,” he continued. “It’s just a bunch of lies. It’s sick. I have no idea why Tom is trying to destroy me with these lies.”
Thomas Sr. and Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, divorced when she was six. Meghan has long been estranged from her father, but made contact with him in December 2025 following the amputation of his leg. “I can confirm she has reached out to her father,” a spokesperson for Meghan told People on December 5.
Prince Harry, Prince Archie, Princess Lilibet and Meghan Markle
Credit: Meghan Markle/Instagram
If you, or someone you know, has been a victim of sexual assault or harassment and would like help, visit RAINN.org.
Read the original article on InStyle
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