Thomas Markle, the father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was arrested this Friday (the 6th) by the FBI in Florida, United States. The 82-year-old man is accused of possessing materials involving child sexual abuse, including photographs in which he allegedly appears with underage girls.
The arrest was confirmed by the American Department of Justice. According to investigators, about 78 items, including photographs, negatives, slides and books, were seized in two storage facilities rented by Markle in the Los Angeles area.
The case began to be investigated after Thomas Markle Jr., Meghan’s half-brother, reported having found suspicious images among their father’s belongings in the Philippines, where he had previously lived.
What do the authorities say?
According to the American Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, agents located images that allegedly show Markle beside prepubescent naked girls. The material was seized during searches authorized by the judiciary.
Bill Essayli, the First Assistant United States Attorney, characterized the charges as extremely serious and stated that the case will be prosecuted with the full rigor of American law.
Markle was detained in Lakeland, where he lived in a care and rehabilitation facility after having his leg amputated in December 2025.
The investigation involves authorities from the United States and the Philippines. Meghan’s father has not yet been tried and, if convicted, could face up to 20 years in prison.
Meghan had already commented on the allegations
The suspicions came to light in October, when the British tabloid The Sun published the account of Thomas Markle Jr. Philippine authorities later confirmed the opening of an investigation.
At the time, Meghan said she was deeply shaken and revealed that she had already received troubling information about her father in 2018, the year of her marriage to Prince Harry.
According to the Duchess, a letter with the allegations was sent to the Metropolitan Police in London and to authorities responsible for protecting the royal family. She stated that she had kept her father away from her children, Archie and Lilibet, out of concern for the children’s safety.
Meghan and Thomas Markle have not had contact since the period before her wedding to Harry, in May 2018.
