Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has said her decision to keep her children away from her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., was motivated by concerns for their protection, following reports that allegations of child sexual abuse images have been made against him.

Meghan said she was “deeply distressed” by the allegations, adding that she had been informed of troubling claims involving her father as far back as 2018.

The development follows a report by British newspaper The Sun that Thomas Markle Jr., Meghan’s half-brother, allegedly discovered a large collection of images depicting child sexual abuse at their father’s residence in the Philippines and reported the matter to authorities.

According to the newspaper, Markle Jr. told investigators that the material, reportedly numbering hundreds or thousands of images, was found in storage boxes and computer hard drives.

The Philippines Justice Department’s child abuse unit confirmed to CNN on Friday that the matter was under investigation.

Markle Jr. also reportedly said he contacted the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation’s tip line, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Pennsylvania state police over the alleged discovery.

However, Thomas Markle Sr. has strongly denied the accusations, describing them as false in an interview with the Daily Mail. He maintained that the computers in question had not been in his possession since he left Mexico with his son in 2025.

His other daughter, Samantha Markle, also rejected the allegations, claiming that her brother had fabricated them and arguing that other people could have accessed the computers.

In her statement, Meghan disclosed that a letter containing allegations against her father had been sent to London’s Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection in 2018. She said the letter was subsequently shared with her and that she was assured the claims were being investigated.

She did not specify the allegations contained in the letter or establish whether they were connected to the current investigation.

The Duchess, who has been estranged from her father for years, said the latest reports had renewed her concerns about the safety of children, expressing hope that the authorities would establish the facts and ensure justice.

She also said she hoped the development would provide context for her longstanding decision not to allow her father contact with her children, insisting that their protection had been her priority.

The allegations remain under investigation, and no finding of guilt has been established against Thomas Markle Sr.