Met Police Refer to Watchdog Over 2019 Handling of Markle Abuse Allegations

Key points

• The Met Police confirmed it received a handwritten letter in January 2019 from Roslyn Loveless, Thomas Markle's first wife, containing claims of alleged offending outside the UK.
• The force voluntarily referred itself to the IOPC for failing to share the letter's contents with other UK or overseas law enforcement agencies, instead passing it only to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
• The Met intends to make further referrals to relevant overseas law enforcement agencies in the coming days regarding the allegations contained in the letter.
• Thomas Markle Jr. reported to Philippine police and the FBI that he found hundreds of images depicting child sexual abuse in boxes at his father's former home in Cebu.
• Philippine authorities have obtained a court warrant to examine devices, including computers and hard drives, seized from Markle's former home.
• Meghan Markle stated she was informed of the allegations in 2018, but Met Police records confirm receipt in January 2019; her spokesperson acknowledged the police records as authoritative.

Background

This development follows earlier reports in late October 2026 that the Met Police had admitted to not sharing the 2019 letter with other agencies. Meghan Markle had previously disclosed that she remained silent about the allegations for years due to legal advice and used the knowledge to justify cutting off contact with her father to protect her children. The current referral to the IOPC formalizes the review of the Met's decision-making process during that period.

How outlets are covering it

BBC and The Guardian report that the Met's voluntary referral to the IOPC stems from an internal review by the directorate of professional standards, focusing on the failure to share information with other agencies. Fox News highlights that Buckingham Palace was reportedly 'blindsided' by the allegations, with royal commentator Kinsey Schofield noting that no royal sources had heard of the claims before they broke in the media. Yahoo focuses on the personal impact, reporting that Meghan Markle is 'devastated' and has taken a break from the media, while noting tensions in her relationship with Prince Harry due to the stress of the situation. All sources agree that Thomas Markle Sr. denies the allegations, but they differ in emphasis: BBC and The Guardian focus on the procedural failure of the Met, while Fox News and Yahoo emphasize the political and personal fallout for the Sussexes and the Royal Family.

Why it matters

The Met's referral to the IOPC raises questions about the handling of sensitive security and child protection information within UK law enforcement. It highlights potential gaps in communication between police and overseas authorities regarding allegations of serious crimes. The situation also tests the boundaries of the Royal Family's involvement in private matters of former working royals, as the Sussexes are now private citizens but remain linked to the Crown through their children. The outcome of the IOPC review and the Philippine investigation could have significant implications for public trust in police procedures and the handling of child safety issues.

What to watch

The IOPC will investigate why the Met did not share the letter with other law enforcement agencies. The Met is expected to complete referrals to overseas agencies in the coming days. Philippine police will examine the seized devices under a court warrant. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are currently overseas with their children, taking a break from the media. Thomas Markle Sr. is in Florida for rehabilitation. The outcome of the Philippine investigation and the IOPC review will determine if further legal action is taken against Thomas Markle Sr. or if the Met faces criticism for its 2019 handling of the letter.