Thomas Markle Could Face Charges as Philippine Police Obtain Search Warrant

Authorities in the Philippines have obtained a warrant to examine devices and other materials connected to allegations involving Thomas Markle, the 82-year-old father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. The Department of Justice’s Office of the Regional Prosecutor VII told Page Six that legal action could be considered after investigators complete their review, but stressed that no decision about charges has been made. The prosecutor’s office said Cebu police, working through their Women and Children Protection Unit, secured the warrant for materials Thomas Markle Jr. turned over to officers. Investigators must first determine whether there is enough evidence to identify anyone who may be legally responsible. The office cautioned that the claims remain allegations and said it would not draw conclusions or assign blame before the examination is complete. The inquiry follows reports that Thomas Jr. said he discovered a large collection of alleged child sexual abuse images while searching his father’s home for a phone belonging to his father’s girlfriend. He told The Sun that the material was found among family keepsakes and that he reported what he said he had found. Thomas Jr. also said he had supported and cared for his father for years, but would no longer speak with him unless called to provide evidence. A source close to Meghan told Page Six that the allegations might help explain why she has been estranged from her father since 2018. Meghan said she learned of the claims through a letter sent to London’s Metropolitan Police and its Royalty and Specialist Protection unit, which was later shared with her. She said she had been assured the allegations were being investigated and described them as troubling. For now, the prosecutor’s office says the case remains at the evidence-review stage. The warrant allows investigators to examine the materials; it does not establish that the allegations are true or that charges will follow.