Key facts
- Metropolitan Police confirmed receiving a letter in January 2019 with allegations of offending outside the UK.
- The letter was sent to the MPS Protection Command concerning the security of the Duchess of Sussex.
- The police decided to pass the letter to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's office for awareness.
- Details of the allegations were not shared with other law enforcement agencies.
- The Duchess of Sussex stated she was given assurances that the allegations were being investigated.
- Thomas Markle Sr denies the allegations, calling them 'sick lies'.
The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it provided a letter in 2019 to the Duchess of Sussex regarding allegations of offending involving her father. The letter, received in January 2019, contained claims of offending outside the UK and was shared with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's office without being passed to other law enforcement agencies. The police force is reviewing its handling of the matter and considering a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The Duchess of Sussex stated she was deeply distressed by the news and had received assurances that the allegations were being investigated. Her father, Thomas Markle Sr, has denied the accusations. Reports also emerged that Meghan's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, claimed to have found child sexual abuse images belonging to their father in the Philippines.