Meghan Markle's estranged father, Thomas Markle, has been accused of saying he travelled to the Philippines and Thailand because '12-year-olds are legal there', according to a letter his late former wife sent to police in January 2019.
The allegation has resurfaced as Philippine authorities investigate reports that suspected child sexual abuse material was found at his former home in Cebu City. Philippine Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has described the reported discovery as serious while stressing that forensic examinations are needed before investigators can reach a definitive conclusion.
'He could be a "possible sex offender of the grossest kind",' the Philippine official stated.
Thomas, 82, denies possessing the material, and no finding establishing that he committed the alleged offences has been announced.
Ex-Wife's Letter Details Alleged Remark About Underage Girls
Roslyn Loveless, who was married to Thomas until 1975 and died in 2024, reportedly sent a seven-page letter to the Metropolitan Police's Fixated Threat Assessment Centre in January 2019. The letter raised concerns about the safety of Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, alongside allegations concerning Thomas and his overseas trips.
'I questioned Thomas Snr, he denied the accusation but stated that he went to the Philippines and Thailand because 12 year olds are legal there', Loveless reportedly wrote, according to the newspaper, which said it had reviewed the letter. The alleged exchange has not been independently established, and the letter alone does not prove that the conversation took place as described.
Former Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Inspector Mick Neville said that, if Thomas had made the remark as alleged, it would indicate a 'perverted sexual interest in children'. He also criticised the handling of the letter, arguing that the information should have been passed to US authorities so they could assess whether further investigation was warranted.
The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that it received a letter in January 2019 containing allegations of criminal offending outside the UK. The force reportedly passed the letter to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's office but did not share its contents with other law enforcement agencies, and it is reviewing its handling of the matter while considering whether to refer itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Philippine Investigation Remains Ongoing
The allegations in the letter have returned to public attention amid a separate investigation in the Philippines. Thomas moved to the Philippines in 2025 and lived in Cebu City before leaving his former home in 2026.
Philippine Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla told a report that a search of the property uncovered a laptop and what he described as a 'trove of child sexual abuse images'. He said investigators needed to complete forensic examinations before reaching a definitive conclusion, with results expected within a week of the minister's comments on 25 October.
Thomas has denied possessing the material, describing the accusations as 'sick lies' in comments reported. He has also said the computers had not been in his possession since he left Mexico with his son in 2025 and moved to the Philippines. Authorities have indicated that appropriate legal action could follow if sufficient evidence emerges.
In a 2017 interview, Thomas Markle Jr recalled his father discussing trips to Thailand and the Philippines and talking about encounters with women overseas. He said the stories had disturbed him, although his recollections do not independently establish the allegations in Loveless's letter or prove any connection between those allegations and the material now under examination.
Meghan has said she is 'deeply distressed' by the latest allegations and that her decision to keep her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, away from her father was intended to protect them. She has also said she was assured that the earlier allegations were being investigated, while the police review has raised questions about whether relevant authorities received the information they needed.
The investigation in the Philippines is ongoing, and Thomas has not been found to have committed the alleged offences. The forensic findings and any subsequent decisions by investigators will determine whether the claims can be substantiated.
