Met Police Review 2019 Letter Handling as Meghan Defends Child Protection

Key points

• Metropolitan Police received a letter in January 2019 containing claims about Thomas Markle’s alleged offending outside the UK.
• The force decided not to share the letter’s details with other law enforcement agencies, passing it only to the Sussexes’ office.
• Meghan Markle stated she was informed of 'disturbing allegations' in 2018, a date discrepancy she attributed to a possible error.
• Meghan explained that her decision to keep Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet away from her father was solely to protect them.
• Philippine authorities confirmed an investigation into claims that Markle kept child sexual abuse images at his home in Cebu.
• Thomas Markle denied the allegations, calling them 'sick lies,' while his son Thomas Jr. claimed to have found hundreds of such images.

Background

This development follows earlier reports in October 2026 regarding the Metropolitan Police’s review of a 2018 letter. Previous coverage established that Meghan had disclosed prior knowledge of allegations against her father, which she cited as the reason for the family estrangement. The current news adds specific details about the police’s handling of the 2019 letter and the ongoing international investigation.

How outlets are covering it

NBC News and The New York Times focus on the Metropolitan Police’s admission that they did not share the 2019 letter with other agencies and Meghan’s statement that she was 'deeply distressed.' The Sun, a British tabloid, emphasized the specific claims by Thomas Markle Jr. that he found 'hundreds, if not thousands' of images. Yahoo News highlighted criticism from celebrity journalist Rob Shuter, who questioned why Meghan did not warn other families, though the outlet noted that Meghan was advised against speaking out publicly to avoid jeopardizing the investigation. The outlets differ on the timeline, with Meghan citing 2018 and police records showing 2019, a discrepancy Meghan’s spokesperson suggested might be a mistake of a few months.

Why it matters

The case raises questions about the coordination between UK and international law enforcement regarding potential child safety threats. It also impacts the public narrative surrounding the Sussexes' return to the UK and their relationship with the royal family, as Meghan’s explanation for the family estrangement shifts from personal disputes to protective measures based on alleged criminal conduct.

What to watch

The Metropolitan Police is considering referring itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Philippine authorities are continuing their investigation, and the FBI is monitoring for any US federal violations. No criminal findings have been established against Thomas Markle yet.