In light of recent allegations against her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., Meghan Markle is speaking out to emphasize the importance of her children’s safety. The Duchess of Sussex publicly reaffirmed her choice to keep her two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, away from their grandfather following reports of a criminal investigation involving troubling allegations of child sexual abuse material.
In a statement provided to PEOPLE, Meghan expressed her motives clearly: “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.”
Meghan Markle Has Been Estranged From Her Father Since 2018
Since 2018, Meghan has maintained a distance from Thomas Markle Sr. Her two children, born in 2019 and 2021, have never met him. Meghan revealed that she first became aware of “troubling and disturbing allegations” against her father in 2018 through an official letter sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. She mentioned, “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.”
A source close to the situation informed PEOPLE that Meghan had been advised to refrain from publicly addressing the allegations, as doing so could potentially jeopardize the investigation. She expressed her trust in the authorities, hoping that they were safeguarding other families in similar situations. “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 emphasized.
Adding to her distress, Meghan stated, “I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours. My thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed.”
Despite the estrangement, Meghan reportedly reached out to her father in December 2025, after hearing about his leg amputation.
Thomas Markle Sr. Denies The Allegations Against Him
In response to the allegations, Thomas Markle Sr., currently reportedly in a rehabilitation facility in Florida, has denied all claims against him. Speaking to The Daily Mail, he expressed his shock and hurt, stating, “I’m shocked, I’m hurt and I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me. I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of.”
He further described the accusations as “a bunch of lies” and expressed confusion as to why his son would attempt to destroy him with such claims. The allegations surfaced following a report by The Sun, indicating that Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., had alerted authorities after finding “hundreds, if not thousands” of inappropriate and illegal images.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
