Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published November 5, 2026
Philippine authorities said they are investigating allegations that Thomas Markle Sr., father of Meghan Markle, had a hoard of child sex abuse images. The FBI has acknowledged the matter but has not described any investigation of its own in detail.
The allegations
Thomas Markle Jr., Meghan Markle’s half-brother, made the claims to The Sun.
He said he found four large boxes of suspected child sexual abuse material while going through his father’s home in the Philippines. His father had returned to the United States in May after a blood clot and stroke. Markle Jr. handed the boxes of possessions to police in Cebu City, where the pair had been living.
Markle Jr. said he first contacted the FBI hotline, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Pennsylvania state police on July 10.
The FBI’s response
The FBI said in a statement that it is aware of the allegations and will provide support, as appropriate, to the Philippine authorities. The Sun reported that the FBI had confirmed receiving the affidavit and was considering its own probe. People magazine noted that Philippine police had not immediately responded to its request for confirmation.
A second matter emerged later. A British newspaper reported Markle to the FBI after child abuse images were allegedly found in a storage unit in Mexico. The Daily Mail reported that discovery, according to other outlets, and LBC described him as under active investigation by authorities in the Philippines and the United States.
Markle’s response
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Markle Sr. denied possessing child sex images and called the accusations “sick lies.” He has admitted to paying for sex in the Philippines but denied ever possessing child abuse imagery. He reportedly told Philippine police he found the material mixed in with family mementos.
Meghan Markle’s response
Meghan said she was made aware of “disturbing allegations” about her father in 2018. She also said she was “deeply distressed” after learning of the latest allegations. (qatar-tribune) (oxygen)
Health and the investigation
Markle, 82, was reportedly moved to a memory care facility in Florida, raising concerns that investigators may be unable to question him.
What is not established
The allegations come largely from Markle Jr.’s account and media reports. Authorities have not publicly announced findings, and none of the coverage reviewed reports charges. The material has not been publicly verified, and Markle Sr. is presumed innocent.
