Met Police Confirm 2019 Markle Letter Sent Only to Sussex Office

The Metropolitan Police have verified that a 2019 letter detailing allegations of offending involving Thomas Markle Sr was transmitted directly to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The force confirmed that the document was not shared with other law enforcement agencies at the time.

The confirmation follows reports that emerged this week regarding child sexual abuse images linked to Markle Sr. The Sun newspaper reported that Markle's 60-year-old half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, discovered hundreds of such images on computers and mobile phones in four boxes at his father's former home in Cebu, Philippines. Markle Jr told detectives in the Philippines that he found the devices and later contacted the FBI. Markle Sr lived in the Cebu residence until returning to the United States in May after suffering a stroke.

A spokesperson for the Met said the force received the letter in January 2019. The document raised concerns about offending outside of Britain. The Met stated that the letter was sent to its Protection Command to address the security of the Duchess of Sussex. The spokesperson noted that the letter was reviewed and a decision was made to pass it to the royal office for their awareness. The force is currently reviewing how the matter was handled and is considering a self-referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Markle Sr has denied the claims, describing the accusations as sick lies in an interview with the Daily Mail. Meghan Markle, who is estranged from her father, said through a spokesperson that she was deeply distressed by the news. She stated that her thoughts were with any children who may have been harmed and that she had been given assurances the allegations were being investigated. She said her decision to limit her father's contact with Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, was made to protect them.

Initial comments from the Duchess suggested the letter arrived in 2018. Her spokesperson later clarified that she had misremembered the year and confirmed the 2019 date provided by the Met. The spokesperson said that if the police hold a time-stamped record showing a 2019 review, that record should be treated as the accurate reference point.

Sources indicated that Meghan could not speak publicly about the letter in 2019 to avoid jeopardizing any future investigation or facing potential legal action. The Duke and Duchess recently relocated from the United States to the United Kingdom.

Thomas Markle Jr's discovery of the images in the Philippines has renewed scrutiny on the initial handling of the 2019 correspondence. The Met's decision to share the document only with the royal office, rather than with broader investigative bodies, is now the focus of the internal review.