Meghan Markle's father Thomas Sr arrested on child sex abuse material allegations
Warning: This article contains discussion of child abuse which some readers may find distressing.
The Duchess of Sussex's father has reportedly been arrested in Florida for possession of child sex abuse material.
CBS reports that Thomas Markle Sr., 82, was taken into custody at Lakeland's Maravida Senior Living care home by officers on Friday (6 November).
Tyla has contacted the FBI for comment.
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Meghan Markle, who has been estranged from her father for several years, previously issued a statement following accusations against Thomas Sr concerning possession of child sex abuse material.
"I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed," she announced in an official statement issued to the Press Association.
"In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. That letter was subsequently shared with me. It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father, and I was given assurances that these were being investigated."
Meghan, 45, went on to add: "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.
"I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families. Although the breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine, my sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children."
The mother-of-two's comments came after Meghan's brother, Thomas Markle Jnr told The Sun: "I won’t speak to my father ever again unless I’m called to give evidence against him."
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Thomas Sr slammed previous allegations as 'sick lies'.
"I'm shocked, I'm hurt, and I'm very upset that my son is making these accusations against me," he said from a rehab centre in Florida, where he is learning to walk with a prosthetic limb after his left leg was amputated below the knee last December.
"I could never do what I'm being accused of. It's the worst thing anyone could accuse me of."
Thomas Sr continued: "This is bulls***. It's just a bunch of lies. It's sick. I have no idea why Tom is trying to destroy me with these lies."
The Duchess has had no contact with her father since she wed Prince Harry in 2018, a ceremony Thomas Sr couldn't attend because of health complications.
He subsequently suffered a stroke, which cost him his ability to speak at the time.
Then, in January 2025, he made the move to the Philippines, after being 'constantly reminded of my estrangement from my daughter' in the States.
"I could not escape her and Harry who were always on TV with their shows, books and interviews," he previously told the press. "So I moved to the other side of the world hoping for a quieter life."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 10am-8pm Monday to Friday. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111, 24/7.
Topics: Meghan Markle, US News, Royal Family, News
Rhianna Benson
