Duchess Meghan speaks out about child sex images investigation into dad

Jennifer Hassan, USA TODAYFri, October 23, 2026 at 10:26 AM UTC

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Duchess Meghan is speaking out about the police investigation into her estranged father Thomas Markle, who is reportedly being investigated over an alleged stash of child sex images.

The duchess said that she was first made aware of "disturbing allegations" against her dad in 2018 and expressed hope that people would now finally understand why she has had no contact with the 82-year-old.

“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," Meghan said in a statement shared on Friday Oct. 23.

The statement came after The Sun newspaper reported on Thursday, Oct. 22, that police are investigating Meghan's dad over dozens of child sex images, which were allegedly uncovered inside his home in the Philippines by his son, Thomas Jr.

In the lengthy statement, the duchess said that the reason she has not had a relationship with her father for several years stemmed from a desire to protect her children Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5 from their maternal grandfather.

"In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. 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," she said.

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"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 she "trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families."

The FBI is set to launch their own probe into Markle, who now lives back in the U.S., the Sun reported.

"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," the statement ended.

This is a developing story.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Duchess Meghan speaks out about child sex images investigation into dad

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