Seven years of silence: Police admit they hid abuse claims from Meghan Markle's family

The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Friday that they possessed a letter from January 2019 detailing serious allegations against Thomas Markle Sr. This revelation comes as new claims surface that the Duke of Sussex's father held images of child sexual abuse. The force admitted the document described offending that occurred outside of Britain. They stated the information was shared only with the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. No other law enforcement agencies received the details at the time.

The story broke after The Sun reported that Thomas Markle Jr, 60, found a collection of images at his father's former home in the Philippines. Markle Jr told detectives in Cebu that he discovered hundreds or even thousands of such images on computers and phones. These devices were stored in four large boxes. His father lived in that house until returning to the United States in May following a stroke. Markle Jr also said he had reached out to the FBI in the US to report the findings.

A spokesperson for Scotland Yard said the force received the letter to raise security concerns about the Duchess. After a thorough review of their systems and records, they decided to pass the document to the royal couple's office. The spokesperson noted that the Met is now reviewing how the matter was handled in 2019. They are considering referring the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. This independent body oversees police conduct in England and Wales.

Thomas Markle Sr has denied the accusations. He told the Daily Mail that the claims were sick lies. Meghan Markle responded to the news through a spokesperson on Friday. She described herself as deeply distressed by the reports. Her thoughts were with any children who may have been harmed. She confirmed that a letter with troubling and disturbing allegations had been shared with her. She said she was given assurances that an investigation was underway.

Meghan stated that her decision to keep her father away from her children was made solely to protect them. She is currently estranged from him. He has never met Prince Archie, seven, or Princess Lilibet, five. The couple recently moved back to the UK from the US. Meghan initially said the letter was sent in 2018. She later corrected this to 2019. A spokesperson said it was understandable she misremembered events from more than seven years ago without a contemporaneous record.

Sources indicated that Meghan could not speak publicly about the letter in 2019. She waited to avoid jeopardizing any future investigation. Speaking out earlier could have also led to legal action against her. The police are now examining the timeline. They want to determine why the information was not shared more broadly. The review aims to clarify the handling of the case. The focus remains on transparency and accountability in how the force managed the disclosure.

The situation has raised questions about the flow of information between royal security and the public. The Met says it is treating the matter with care. They are looking at all options for further review. The Duchess's office will continue to support the process. The family remains focused on privacy and protection. The next steps depend on the outcome of the internal police review. Stakeholders will watch for any formal referral to the IOPC in the coming weeks.