Meghan Markle reportedly ended any prospect of reconciliation with her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., in a letter that confronted him over allegations of child sexual abuse and made clear that he would never meet his grandchildren.
According to a report published by People the Duchess of Sussex sent the letter in December 2025 while her father was receiving hospital treatment in the Philippines following the amputation of his leg.
The reported contents of the letter have brought renewed attention to the long-running estrangement between Meghan and her father, who did not attend her May 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.
The letter reportedly told Thomas that Meghan would not allow him to meet Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet and that he would never hear from her again.
Its reported contents emerged days after allegations involving child sexual abuse material surfaced publicly, prompting renewed scrutiny of information Meghan had received about her father years earlier.
Thomas has denied the allegations, which authorities are investigating.
Meghan addressed the allegations publicly on October 23, 2026, saying she felt deeply distressed by the reports and expressing concern for any children who might have suffered harm.
“I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed,” she said in a statement released through her spokesperson.
The Duchess also explained that she had learned of troubling allegations involving her father in 2018, when a letter sent to the Metropolitan Police was subsequently shared with her.
“In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. That letter was subsequently shared with me. It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated,” Meghan said.
She added that her decision to remain estranged from Thomas and prevent him from contacting her children had a specific purpose.
“I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications’ distortion over the years, any distance from my father, and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason: to protect them,” she said.
Meghan added that she had trusted authorities to protect other families while handling the allegations.
“Although the breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine, my sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children,” she said.
The latest reports followed claims by Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., who said he discovered large quantities of child sexual abuse images on computers and mobile phones stored at his father’s former home in Cebu, Philippines.
According to The Sun, Thomas Jr. said he found “hundreds, if not thousands” of images and reported the discovery to authorities. He also reportedly contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States.
Philippine authorities have confirmed that an investigation is underway. The allegations concern the suspected possession of material involving child sexual abuse.
Thomas Markle Sr. has strongly denied possessing such material. Speaking to the Daily Mail from a rehabilitation centre in Florida, where he was recovering after his leg amputation, he said: “I’m shocked, I’m hurt and I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me.”
He also said: “I could never do what I’m being accused of.”
Thomas further described the allegations as “sick lies” and questioned why his son would make them.
The allegations have also raised questions about the Metropolitan Police’s handling of the earlier letter concerning Thomas.
On October 24, 2026, the force confirmed that it received a letter in January 2019 containing claims about alleged offending outside the United Kingdom.
The police said its Protection Command reviewed the letter and passed the information to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex because it raised concerns relating to Meghan’s security.
However, the force acknowledged that it did not share the allegations with other law enforcement agencies.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: “The details of the allegations in the letter were not shared with other law enforcement agencies.”
The force added that it was reviewing how officers handled the matter and considering whether to refer itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
The police review has added another dimension to the case, particularly because Meghan said she had been assured the allegations were being investigated.
Meghan and Thomas have been estranged since 2018, when he withdrew from attending her wedding to Prince Harry amid controversy surrounding staged paparazzi photographs and his health.
Thomas has never met Archie or Lilibet, and the reported December 2025 letter appears to have reinforced Meghan’s decision to keep the relationship severed.
