Thomas Markle has been asked to leave his care home following a police investigation into a “stash of child sex images,” The Sun reported. The probe follows allegations that Markle possessed materials depicting child abuse, which he has described as “sick lies.”
Police search devices in the Philippines
Authorities in the Philippines have obtained a court warrant to examine electronic devices seized from the former home of Thomas Markle. Police are reviewing four boxes of material that include computers, phones, hard drives, and old videotapes.
These items were handed over to the police last week by Thomas Markle Jr., the half-brother of the Duchess of Sussex. Markle Sr. was in the Philippines in December 2025 for hospital treatment when the Duchess of Sussex wrote to him to end all contact.
Did you know? Thomas Markle Jr. told The Sun that he discovered the material on a spare mobile phone after his father returned to the U.S. to have a leg amputated.
Allegations of child abuse images
Thomas Markle Jr. described finding “the most horrific video of a very young Asian girl” who appeared to be no more than 10 years old. He claimed to have found “thousands and thousands” of obscene images, leading him to contact the FBI, the Pennsylvania state police, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
Markle Jr. told The Sun that the discovery caused him to question his family history, specifically recalling times his father abruptly closed his laptop or kept rooms locked in their homes. Thomas Markle Sr. strongly denies all allegations, and his daughter Samantha has dismissed the claims as “fake.”
Metropolitan Police watchdog probe
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the Metropolitan Police over their handling of a 2019 letter containing allegations against Thomas Markle. The IOPC is examining why the force failed to pass “allegations of serious offending” to relevant overseas authorities at the time.
The letter was written by Markle’s first wife, Roslyn Loveless, who died in 2024. Scotland Yard stated the letter contained claims of offending outside the UK and was forwarded to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their awareness. The Duchess of Sussex stated last week that the letter contained “troubling and disturbing allegations,” which she cited as a reason for not visiting her father or allowing him to meet his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet.
Timeline of Markle family disputes
| Year | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Met Police pass letter of allegations to Meghan | BBC |
| 2025 | Thomas Markle Sr. and Jr. move to Philippines | The Guardian |
| 2025 | Meghan writes to father to end all contact | BBC |
Thomas Markle investigation FAQs
Thomas Markle Jr., the half-brother of the Duchess of Sussex, provided four boxes of electronics and tapes to the police last week.
What is the IOPC investigating regarding the Met Police’s handling of a letter containing allegations against Thomas Markle? The watchdog is investigating why the Metropolitan Police did not share the contents of a 2019 letter regarding serious offending with other UK or overseas law enforcement agencies.
Yes.
The Duchess of Sussex released a statement describing her deep distress and stating that her priority is the protection of children.
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