Met reveals 2019 abuse letter path

The Metropolitan Police have clarified the routing of a 2019 document containing allegations against Thomas Markle Sr, the father of the Duchess of Sussex. The force stated that the letter was sent exclusively to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Scotland Yard received the letter in January 2019, which detailed claims of offending outside Britain. A Met spokesperson said the force conducted a thorough review of its records. The letter was sent to the Protection Command to raise concerns about the Duchess's security. Officials decided to pass the information to the Sussex office for their awareness. The force noted that the document was not shared with other law enforcement agencies.

The disclosure follows a report by The Sun that Thomas Markle Jr, 60, found images of child sexual abuse at his former home in Cebu, Philippines. Markle Jr told detectives in the Philippines that he discovered hundreds, if not thousands, of such images on computers and phones stored in four large boxes. His father lived in the house until returning to the US in May following a stroke. Markle Jr said he contacted the FBI in the US. Thomas Markle Sr denied the allegations, calling them sick lies in an interview with the Daily Mail.

The Met is currently reviewing how the matter was handled in 2019. The force is considering whether to refer itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Meghan Markle said through a spokesperson that she was deeply distressed by the news. She stated that a letter with troubling and disturbing allegations had been shared with her. She said she was given assurances the claims were being investigated. Her decision to keep her father from having contact with her children was made to protect them.

The Duchess is estranged from her father, who has never met Prince Archie, seven, or Princess Lilibet, five. Harry and Meghan recently moved back to the UK from the US. Meghan initially said the letter arrived in 2018, but later corrected the year to 2019. A spokesperson said it was understandable she could be mistaken by a few months when recalling events from more than seven years ago without a diary entry. The spokesperson added that if the Met holds a time-stamped record showing the letter was reviewed in 2019, that should be the accurate reference point.

Sources said Meghan could not speak publicly about the allegations when she learned of them in 2019. This was to avoid jeopardizing any future investigation and to prevent potential legal action against her.