Met Police Confirm 2019 Security Letter on Markle Allegations Shared With Sussex Office

The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Friday that they shared a 2019 letter containing allegations of offending against Thomas Markle Sr with the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The force stated that the document was passed directly to the royal office for awareness but was not sent to other law enforcement agencies. This confirmation follows public claims that Markle Sr possessed child sexual abuse images.

Scotland Yard said it received the letter in January 2019. The document made claims about offending that occurred outside of Britain. A Met spokesperson said the letter was sent to the Protection Command to raise concerns about the security of the Duchess of Sussex. The force decided to pass the letter to the Sussex office after reviewing it.

The Sun newspaper reported that Thomas Markle Jr, 60, told detectives in the Philippines he found images of their father on computers and mobile phones. Markle Jr said the devices were kept in four large boxes at their father's former home in Cebu. He described the number of images as hundreds, if not thousands. Markle Sr lived in the Philippines until returning to the United States in May after a stroke. Markle Jr said he contacted the FBI regarding the discovery.

Thomas Markle Sr denied the allegations in a statement to the Daily Mail. He called the accusations sick lies. The Met spokesperson said the force conducted a thorough review of its systems and records. The police are now reviewing how the matter was handled in 2019. They are considering whether to refer the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Meghan Markle said through a spokesperson that she was deeply distressed by the news. She said her thoughts were with any children who may have been harmed. She stated that the letter contained troubling and disturbing allegations about her father. She said she was given assurances the allegations were being investigated. She said keeping her father from having contact with her children was a decision made to protect them.

The duchess is estranged from her father, who has never met Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five. Harry and Meghan recently moved back to the United Kingdom from the United States. Meghan initially said the letter was sent in 2018. She later corrected this to 2019. A spokesperson said it was understandable she was mistaken by a few months when recalling events from more than seven years ago. The spokesperson said a time-stamped record from the Met should be treated as the accurate reference point.

Sources said Meghan could not speak publicly about the allegations in 2019. They said this was to avoid jeopardizing any future investigation. They also said speaking out could have led to legal action against her.