LONDON (AP) – Prince Harry’s wife, Meghansaid Friday she was “deeply distressed” by allegations that a collection of child sexual abuse images was found in her father’s former home. She also revealed that a letter containing “disturbing allegations” about her was sent to London police in 2018.
Meghan, also known as the Duchess of Sussex, released the statement after The Sun, a British tabloid, reported that her brother found the images while clearing out their father’s house. Thomas Markle Sr.in the Philippines.
“I am deeply distressed by the news that has emerged over the past 24 hours and my thoughts are with all the children who may have been harmed,” Meghan said in a statement.
She also addressed the letter sent to the Metropolitan Police Service’s Royal and Specialist Protection Unit, who then shared the contents with her.
“There were disturbing and disturbing allegations against my father and I was assured that these reports were being investigated. I hope it can now be understood that, despite the distortion of some media publications over the years, any distance from my father and my choice not to allow him to have contact with our children was for one reason only: to protect them.”
Meghan, an American citizen who starred in the American television series “Suits”, married Harry at Windsor Castle in 2018. They have two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Thomas Markle Sr., retired television lighting and photography director, was not present marriagewhich sparked widespread coverage in the British media about Meghan’s estrangement from her father. While some reports suggested she avoided him in favor of her new royal status, Meghan said her decision to distance herself was intentional. to protect his children.
“While the scale of what has been uncovered is more sickening than anyone 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,” Meghan said in her statement.
Thomas Markle Sr. was living in the Philippines earlier this year when he suffered a stroke and had his left leg amputated. This forced him to return to the United States
The Sun reported that Thomas Markle Jr. recently found “hundreds, if not thousands” of images of child sexual abuse in boxes in his father’s former home in the Philippine city of Cebu, while he was clearing out the property.
Markle Jr. told the newspaper that he reported the images to police in the Philippines and contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States.
“I supported him, cared for him and helped him for years – but that stops now,” Markle Jr. told The Sun. “I will never speak to my father again unless I am called to testify against him.”
In the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag told The Associated Press that the FBI had requested his help in investigating Markle Jr.’s allegations against his father.
The FBI’s Manila office forwarded a letter from Markle Jr. to a number of Philippine law enforcement agencies, including the NBI’s Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Division, in which he detailed his alleged discovery of materials “that appear to depict children/minors in sexually explicit or exploitative circumstances,” Matibag said.
The son indicated he was willing to return the allegedly obscene materials he found, and said in a sworn statement that his father “is already in an assisted living facility in Florida, United States,” Matibag said, without elaborating or saying whether the suspect materials were handed over to Philippine authorities.
The FBI has asked to be informed by Philippine authorities “as soon as one of the victims is identified,” Matibag said.
Philippine Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla separately told the AP that the national police, which he helps oversee, were also investigating Markle Jr.’s allegations against his father, without elaborating.
In comments to the Daily Mail, Markle, 82, denied the allegations.
“I’m shocked, I’m hurt and very upset that my son is making these accusations against me,” he said, as quoted by the Daily Mail. “I could never do what I’m accused of. It’s the worst thing I could be accused of.
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