Thomas Markle Sr. Arrested in Florida Over Child Pornography Allegations
The father of the Duchess of Sussex faces new charges in the U.S., following a similar investigation in the Philippines last month.
By Matthew Brooks ·
Thomas Markle Sr. was arrested in Florida on Friday, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
The arrest is connected to allegations that the 75-year-old father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, possessed child sex abuse materials. One source noted that the case currently remains under seal.
This is not the first time Markle has faced such accusations. Last month, reports indicated that authorities in the Philippine National Police were investigating him for alleged possession of the same materials. Markle has consistently denied the claims, labeling them "sick lies." He told the Daily Mail, "I have never downloaded anything like that in my life."
A spokesperson for the Philippine National Police stated that the investigation began after Markle’s son, Thomas Markle Jr., turned over the father’s personal items to law enforcement. The timing of the new U.S. arrest suggests a parallel or related legal action is now underway in Florida.
Meghan, who is currently in the United States with Prince Harry and their children, issued a statement to CBS News following the initial reports of the Philippine investigation. She said she had known about the allegations since 2018 and shared them with U.K. authorities at that time. She explained that this knowledge led her and Harry to limit contact between their father and their children.
"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," Meghan said.
Last year, Meghan also spoke publicly about the child sexual abuse allegations. Video obtained by the Daily Mail shows Markle in a U.S. hospital room in December 2025 accepting a letter from his daughter. In that letter, Meghan wrote that she and authorities "knew he had abused young girls" and stated he would never meet their sons and daughters, Archie and Lilibet. A spokesperson for Meghan has been reached for comment on the Friday arrest, while royal editor Roya Nikkah said on X that the duchess is unlikely to comment at this time.
