Ex-wife's 2019 letter reveals Thomas Markle Sr. admitted to seeking 'legal' 12-year-olds in Asia

Key points

• Roslyn Loveless, Thomas Markle Sr.'s first wife, wrote a 2019 letter to London's Metropolitan Police stating he traveled to the Philippines and Thailand because '12-year-olds are legal there.'
• In 2019, the legal age of sexual consent in the Philippines was 12, though paying for sex with anyone under 18 remained illegal; the age was raised to 16 in 2022.
• Philippine Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla stated that all signs point to Markle Sr. being a 'possible sex offender of the grossest kind' based on digital evidence found in his Cebu home.
• Thomas Markle Jr. discovered hundreds of child abuse images in boxes at his father's home and reported them to local police and the FBI.
• Meghan Markle confirmed she received the 2019 letter from the Metropolitan Police and was assured the allegations were being investigated, though she initially misremembered the year as 2018.

Background

This development follows earlier reports that Meghan Markle severed ties with her father in 2025, citing known abuse allegations. The Metropolitan Police had previously admitted to not sharing the 2019 letter with other law enforcement agencies, a failure they are now reviewing. Thomas Markle Sr. has consistently denied the allegations, calling them 'sick lies,' while admitting to paying for sex with adults in the past.

How outlets are covering it

Page Six and The Sun emphasize the specific admission in Loveless's letter regarding the legal age of consent in the Philippines, highlighting the ex-wife's role in exposing the claims. The Guardian and BBC focus on the current forensic investigation in the Philippines and the Metropolitan Police's handling of the 2019 letter. While all outlets agree on the core facts, Page Six and Yahoo stress the emotional impact on Meghan Markle, whereas The Guardian and BBC provide more detail on the legal and procedural aspects of the investigation.

Why it matters

The revelation of the 2019 letter underscores a potential failure by UK authorities to act on serious allegations against a public figure's family member. It also highlights the complex legal landscape of child exploitation in Southeast Asia and the long-standing estrangement between Meghan Markle and her father, which was partly driven by these unaddressed concerns.

What to watch

Philippine authorities expect to release a definitive statement within a week after completing forensic analysis of the digital evidence. The FBI has stated it will support Philippine authorities and investigate any related federal violations of US law. The Metropolitan Police are considering referring their handling of the 2019 letter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.