Meghan Markle has shared a statement saying she is  deeply distressed  by allegations that her estranged father, Thomas Markle, possessed child sex abuse images.

A report in The Sun claimed on Friday that child sex abuse images had allegedly been found in 82-year-old Thomas Markle's former home in the Philippines by his son, Thomas Markle Jr. Variety has not been able to verify if there is currently an investigation underway. Thomas Markle - who now reportedly lives in Florida - vehemently denied the allegations to the Daily Mail, calling them  a bunch of lies  and adding:  I could never do what I'm being accused of. It's the worst thing anyone could accuse me of. 

In a statement shared with Variety, the Duchess of Sussex said:  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 claimed that in 2018, a letter about her father was sent to the Metropolitan Police and its Royalty and Specialist Protection unit and was  subsequently shared  with her.

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 It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated,  Meghan said.  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. 

The Metropolitan Police said in a statement to Variety:  We are aware of media reports that officers from the Met's Royalty and Specialist Protection Command were involved in the passing on of a letter in 2018. We are undertaking enquiries internally in an effort to confirm this.  It is understood that the Met has not and is not currently investigating Thomas Markle.

Meghan has been estranged from her father since 2018, when he failed to walk her down the aisle at her wedding. She was escorted by King Charles instead. Thomas Markle has never met her and Prince Harry s two children. Last y
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