Royal Security: Met Police Confirm 2019 Markle Letter

The Metropolitan Police confirmed this week that they provided the Duchess of Sussex with a letter in 2019 containing allegations of offending by her father, Thomas Markle Sr. This admission follows new reports that Markle Sr. possessed child sexual abuse images, a claim that has reignited scrutiny over the police handling of the case.

Scotland Yard stated that the force received the letter in January 2019. The document outlined claims of offending occurring outside Britain. The Met said the information was sent specifically to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They confirmed that the letter was not shared with other law enforcement agencies at that time.

The story gained traction after The Sun reported that Markle Sr.'s son, Thomas Markle Jr., discovered the images. Markle Jr., 60, told detectives in the Philippines that he found hundreds or thousands of images on computers and phones stored in four boxes at his father's former home in Cebu. Markle Sr. lived in the Philippines until returning to the US in May following a stroke. The report added that Markle Jr. contacted the FBI regarding the findings.

Markle Sr. has denied the accusations. He told the Daily Mail that the claims were sick lies. A Met spokesperson said the force conducted a thorough review of its records. The letter was sent to the Protection Command to raise security concerns for the Duchess. The spokesperson noted that a decision was made to pass the letter to the Sussex office for their awareness. The Met is currently reviewing its 2019 handling of the matter and considering a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Meghan said through a spokesperson on Friday that she was deeply distressed by the news. She stated that her thoughts were with any children who may have been harmed. She confirmed that a letter with troubling allegations had been shared with her and that she was assured an investigation was underway. She said keeping her father from seeing her children was a decision made to protect them.

The Duchess is estranged from her father, who has not met Prince Archie, seven, or Princess Lilibet, five. The couple recently returned to the UK from the US. Meghan initially stated the letter arrived in 2018 but later corrected this to 2019. Her spokesperson explained that the error was understandable given the time elapsed without a contemporaneous record. The spokesperson said the Met's time-stamped records should serve as the accurate reference point.

Sources indicated that Meghan could not speak publicly about the allegations in 2019. They said silence was necessary to avoid jeopardizing a potential future investigation and to prevent legal action against her.