Met Police Confirm 2019 Letter Alleging Claims Against Meghan Markle's Father

The Metropolitan Police has verified the existence of a 2019 letter containing multiple allegations regarding Thomas Markle, the father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. A Scotland Yard spokesperson disclosed the document's receipt to CBS News on Saturday, confirming the timeline of the correspondence.

Police records indicate the letter was forwarded to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their awareness. Officials stated that the specific details of the claims were not circulated to other law enforcement agencies at the time.

This confirmation arrives following a week of intense media coverage. The Sun reported on Thursday that Thomas Markle Jr. reported his father to authorities in the Philippines after discovering child abuse materials in storage boxes at the family residence. By Friday, reports emerged that Philippine officials were addressing Markle over alleged possession of child sexual abuse materials. The Daily Mail noted on Friday that Markle denied the accusations.

In a statement released to CBS News on Friday, Meghan described the reports as deeply distressing. She stated she had been aware of the allegations since 2018 and that they were shared with U.K. authorities then. Her statement explained that a letter sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection in 2018 was later shared with her. It contained troubling allegations against her father, and she was assured an investigation was underway.

The duchess added that she maintained distance from her father to protect her children. She said she hoped it would now be clear that, despite media distortions, her decision to limit contact had one purpose: to safeguard them.

A discrepancy remains between the two accounts regarding the date of the letter. Meghan referred to 2018, while Scotland Yard confirmed a 2019 receipt. A spokesman for the duchess told BBC News that any difference of a few months is an understandable consequence of the passage of time.

Scotland Yard announced the Met will review how the matter was handled in 2019. As part of this process, the force will determine whether to refer the case to the police watchdog.