Metropolitan Police Refer Themselves Over Thomas Markle Letter
London’s Metropolitan Police are considering whether to refer themselves to the United Kingdom’s Independent Office for Police Conduct following reports regarding a letter containing allegations about Thomas Markle Sr., BBC reported. The self-referral centers on the force’s handling of correspondence received years ago that detailed disturbing allegations against the estranged father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.
Police Received Warning Letter About Lighting Director in 2019
The paper trail dates back several years. According to Page Six, the initial warning was prompted by Roslyn Loveless, who was married to the former television lighting director from 1964 to 1975 before passing away in 2024. Loveless sent a letter detailing allegations about her ex-husband that eventually reached London authorities in January 2019.
While the Metropolitan Police confirmed receiving the correspondence in early 2019, initial statements from the Duchess of Sussex indicated she recalled receiving the shared letter via royal protection officers in 2018. A spokesperson for the Sussexes explained to NBC News that the duchess may have simply misremembered the exact timing by a few months due to the passage of time. Sources cited by Page Six added that Meghan had been legally advised to remain silent on the matter at the time to avoid jeopardizing any prospective legal proceedings.
International Investigations Move to the Philippines
The focus of the investigation has since shifted internationally. Philippine authorities confirmed that they are actively investigating Thomas Markle Sr. over claims that he kept child sexual abuse images at his residence, per NBC News. The current scrutiny intensified after the 82-year-old moved from Mexico to the Philippines in January 2025.
According to reporting from the Daily Mail, the active probe was triggered when Mr. Markle’s son, Thomas Markle Jr., claimed he discovered a suspicious image on a phone inside a storage box in July 2026.
Speaking directly to the Daily Mail, Thomas Markle Sr. strongly denied any wrongdoing, calling the accusations sick lies and asserting that he had not possessed the computers in question since packing them up for his move to Asia. His other daughter, Samantha Markle, similarly defended her father in statements to the press, dismissing her brother’s claims entirely. There is no merit in these disgusting allegations whatsoever and my brother is disgusting for making them up,
she stated.
The Impact on the Sussex Family
Amid the unfolding international investigation, the Duchess of Sussex released a public statement expressing deep distress over the revelations. She clarified that her longstanding decision to keep her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, away from her father was made strictly to protect them. Today, Meghan says she is deeply distressed
by accusations against her father.
HELLO! reported that Meghan and Prince Harry subsequently took their family overseas for a short break to spend time with close friends while dealing with the emotional toll of the news. Sources close to the duchess noted that she has been deeply shaken by thoughts of potential victims while monitoring the developments from abroad.
Further Details on the Allegations and Family Rift
Additional reporting highlights the strained family dynamics surrounding Thomas Markle Sr. Loveless had previously described him as an awful father, and alleged that although he was never violent, he would often lose his temper.
Thomas Markle Sr. stated he is considering legal action, calling sex abuse images onto computers and cellphones the worst thing anyone could accuse me of.
