Meghan Markle Reveals Why She Never Allowed Father Thomas Markle to Meet Archie and Lilibet Amid Serious Allegations

Meghan Markle has publicly explained why she chose to prevent her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., from having contact with her two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

The Duchess of Sussex, 45, issued a statement on Friday, October 23, following reports that authorities in the Philippines are examining serious allegations involving her father, 82.

Meghan said her decision to keep her children away from their grandfather was motivated by concerns for their safety, revealing that she had been informed of troubling allegations as far back as 2018.

Thomas Markle Sr. has strongly denied the accusations, which have not been established as fact.

Meghan Markle Says Protecting Archie and Lilibet Was Her Priority

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Meghan addressed the longstanding questions surrounding her estrangement from her father.

She explained that her decision to maintain distance from Thomas Sr. and prevent him from meeting her children had been made for their protection.

The Duchess suggested that previous media coverage had misrepresented the reasons behind the family separation.

Meghan and Prince Harry share two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5.

Thomas Sr. has never met either grandchild, who were born in 2019 and 2021.

Her latest statement offers a new explanation for a family relationship that has remained strained since before her marriage to Harry.

Meghan Reveals She Learned of Troubling Allegations in 2018

According to the Duchess, she first became aware of serious allegations concerning her father shortly after her royal wedding in May 2018.

Meghan said a letter containing the allegations had been sent to the Metropolitan Police and its Royalty and Specialist Protection Command.

She subsequently received a copy of that correspondence and was given assurances that the concerns were being examined.

A source familiar with the situation told PEOPLE that the allegations had not been substantiated at the time.

The source also claimed Meghan had been advised against discussing the matter publicly because doing so could interfere with any potential investigation.

Concerns about the legal consequences of repeating unverified allegations reportedly contributed to her decision to remain silent.

Meghan said the recent reports had left her deeply distressed and expressed concern for any children who may have been harmed.

She also voiced hope that the authorities would establish the facts and prioritize the protection of vulnerable children.

Thomas Markle Sr. Faces Allegations Reported by His Son

The Duchess’s statement followed a report published by The Sun on October 22.

According to the newspaper, Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., 60, claimed to have discovered suspected child sexual abuse material among belongings associated with their father at his former residence in Cebu, Philippines.

Thomas Jr. alleged that the material was found among computer equipment and other possessions stored in several boxes.

He claimed to have reported his concerns to authorities in both the Philippines and the United States, including the FBI.

The allegations remain unproven, and the reported discovery does not establish that Thomas Sr. possessed or knowingly accessed illegal material.

On October 23, Philippine Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty confirmed, according to Reuters, that a task force dealing with human trafficking and online child exploitation in Cebu was looking into the matter.

Thomas Markle Strongly Denies the Accusations

Thomas Markle Sr. has firmly rejected the allegations made by his son.

Speaking to the Daily Mail from a rehabilitation facility in Florida, he expressed shock and distress over the claims.

He denied any involvement in the alleged conduct and accused Thomas Jr. of making false statements about him.

Thomas Sr. also questioned why his son would make such accusations publicly.

His denial comes as authorities assess the information that has been reported.

No criminal finding against Thomas Sr. has been established in the information currently available.

Police and FBI Respond to Reports of an Investigation

Following Meghan’s statement, several law enforcement agencies addressed questions about the allegations.

A spokesperson for London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed that the force was aware of reports concerning a letter allegedly passed through its Royalty and Specialist Protection Command in 2018.

The spokesperson said internal inquiries were underway to establish whether that correspondence had been received or handled by officers.

However, the Met clarified that it had not investigated, and was not currently investigating, a man in his 80s living outside the United Kingdom.

The FBI separately confirmed that it was aware of the allegations.

The agency said it would provide appropriate assistance to Philippine authorities and examine any related allegations involving possible violations of United States federal law.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment when asked whether King Charles had known about the alleged 2018 letter, describing the issue as a matter for the Sussexes.

Meghan’s Relationship With Her Father Has Been Strained Since Her Royal Wedding

Meghan’s relationship with Thomas Sr. became the subject of intense public attention ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018.

Thomas had originally been expected to accompany his daughter down the aisle.

However, he did not attend the ceremony following controversy surrounding staged paparazzi photographs and reports about his health.

King Charles, then Prince of Wales, accompanied Meghan for part of her walk down the aisle instead.

Thomas subsequently acknowledged his involvement in the staged photographs.

The relationship remained fractured in the years that followed, with Meghan discussing the emotional consequences during her 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Despite the estrangement, Meghan reportedly attempted to contact her father in December 2025 after learning that he had undergone a leg amputation.

Her spokesperson later confirmed that a letter from the Duchess had reached Thomas Sr., although its contents were not disclosed.

The latest developments have brought renewed attention to the family dispute.

For Meghan, however, her statement emphasizes that her decision concerning Archie and Lilibet was rooted in what she believed was necessary for their protection.

As authorities examine the reported allegations, the claims against Thomas Markle Sr. remain disputed and must not be treated as proven.