Royal source says palace likely knew of letter about Meghan’s father

A royal source has said it was “unthinkable” that Buckingham Palace was not informed about a letter containing allegations against Thomas Markle, the father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, according to a report by the Daily Mail.

A royal source has said it was “unthinkable” that Buckingham Palace was not informed about a letter containing allegations against Thomas Markle, the father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, according to a report by the Daily Mail.

Writing in the newspaper, royal editor Richard Eden quoted the unnamed source as saying that Prince Harry and Meghan would not have been given a copy of the letter without the wider Royal Household being made aware of its contents.

“It was the police’s duty to make the Palace aware of the claims, and they will have done so,” the source said.

The comments have raised questions about whether senior members of the Royal Family, including Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, were informed. However, there has been no public confirmation that either of them personally saw the letter or was told about its contents.

The letter, which the Metropolitan Police confirmed it received in January 2019, contained claims about alleged offending outside Britain. The force said it passed the letter to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex but did not share its contents with other law enforcement agencies at the time.

Meghan said in a statement issued through her spokesperson that she had been made aware of “troubling and disturbing allegations” about her father and had been assured they were being investigated.

“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 said.

The statement followed reports that Philippine authorities were investigating claims that child sexual abuse images had been found at Markle’s former home in the country. Markle has denied possessing the material and rejected the allegations.

The Metropolitan Police has since referred its handling of the letter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the police watchdog, and said it intends to refer the allegations to relevant overseas law enforcement agencies.