World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
FBI Offers Support for Philippine Probe into Thomas Markle Allegations
The FBI has offered support to Philippine authorities investigating allegations against Thomas Markle Sr., Meghan Markle’s estranged father.
The probe began after his son, Thomas Markle Jr., said he found child sexual abuse images at his father’s home in Cebu and reported him.
Thomas Markle Sr. denies the accusations, calling them lies.
Meghan said she was told in 2018 about troubling allegations in a letter passed to her by London police, and said she kept her father away from her children to protect them.
The Metropolitan Police has not confirmed whether the letter was passed to Meghan and says it is making internal enquiries.
The allegations remain under investigation, and the claims have not been established as fact.
The FBI says it may also investigate any related violations of US federal law.
The FBI says it will support Philippine authorities investigating allegations that Thomas Markle Sr. possessed child sexual abuse material.
The agency also says it will investigate any related allegations of violations of U.S. federal law.
The allegations surfaced after Thomas Markle Jr. said he found images at his father’s home in Cebu and reported him.
Thomas Markle Sr. denies the allegations, calling them “sick lies.”
Meghan Markle said she had been informed of troubling allegations about her father in 2018 and said she kept him away from her children to protect them.
- Who
- The FBI, Philippine authorities and Thomas Markle Sr. are central to the story. Thomas Markle Jr. reported the allegations.
- What
- The FBI offered support for a Philippine investigation into allegations that Thomas Markle Sr. possessed child sexual abuse material. It said it would also investigate related possible violations of U.S. federal law.
- When
- The FBI announced its offer on Friday, October 23, 2026. News of the Philippine probe broke on Thursday, October 22.
- Where
- The investigation is in the Philippines, where Thomas Markle Sr. lived in Cebu. The FBI also cited possible violations of U.S. law.
- Why
- Philippine authorities are investigating after Thomas Markle Jr. said he found alleged child sexual abuse images at his father’s home and reported him.
Thomas Markle Sr.
Thomas Markle Jr.
Allegations
Thomas Markle Sr.
He denies the accusations and calls them “sick lies.
Thomas Markle Jr.
He said he found the material and reported his father.
Relationship
Thomas Markle Sr.
He said his son was making accusations to destroy him.
Thomas Markle Jr.
He said he would not speak to his father again unless called to give evidence against him.
A letter containing allegations about Thomas Markle Sr. was reportedly sent to the Metropolitan Police; Meghan said she was informed of troubling allegations about her father that year.
News broke that Philippine law enforcement officials were investigating Thomas Markle Sr. after his son said he found alleged images at their Cebu home and reported him.
The FBI said it would support Philippine authorities and investigate any related allegations of U.S. federal law violations.
The Metropolitan Police said it was making internal enquiries to establish whether officers had passed a letter to Meghan in 2018.
- FBI offer
- Support for Philippine authorities, as appropriate
- Additional FBI action
- Investigate related allegations of federal violations of U.S. law
- Location of alleged discovery
- Thomas Markle Sr.’s home in Cebu, Philippines
- Alleged reporter
- Thomas Markle Jr.
- Letter
- Reportedly sent to the Metropolitan Police in 2018
3 sources
What people are saying
The FBI is aware of the allegations and will provide support, as appropriate, to the Philippine authorities
We will also investigate any related allegations of federal violations of U.S. law.
I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of.
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.