Royal Family: London Police Admit Sharing 2019 Letter on Father's Allegations

London police have officially acknowledged a significant gap in their handling of a sensitive document sent seven years ago.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed they received a letter in January 2019. This letter contained serious allegations regarding the father of the Duchess of Sussex. The force stated that the document outlined claims of offending behavior that took place outside the United Kingdom. They admitted to passing this information directly to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. However, they noted that no other law enforcement agencies were informed at that time.

This confirmation arrived after new reports emerged on Friday. The Sun newspaper claimed that Thomas Markle Jr, the half-brother of the duchess, discovered a large collection of images belonging to their father. He reportedly found these on computers and mobile phones stored in four large boxes. The location was his father's former home in Cebu, Philippines. Markle Jr, who is now 60, told local detectives he found hundreds, if not thousands, of such images. The elder Markle lived in the Philippines until returning to the United States in May following a stroke. The report also stated that Markle Jr contacted the FBI in the US about his findings.

Thomas Markle Sr has firmly denied the claims. In an interview with the Daily Mail, he described the accusations as sick lies. The Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the force conducted a thorough review of its systems and records. They explained that the letter was directed to the Protection Command. The decision was made to share the contents with the royal couple's office so they were aware of the security concerns raised.

The police are currently reviewing how the matter was processed in 2019. They are considering referring the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. This independent body handles complaints about police conduct in England and Wales. The review aims to determine if the correct protocols were followed during that period.

Meghan Markle responded to the news on Friday through a spokesperson. She described herself as deeply distressed by the developments. She said her thoughts were with any children who might have been harmed. She confirmed that a letter with troubling and disturbing allegations had been shared with her. She noted she was given assurances that the claims were being investigated. She explained that her decision to limit her father's contact with her children was made for one primary reason: to protect them.

The duchess is currently estranged from her father. He has never met her two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The royal couple recently moved back to the United Kingdom from the US. In her initial statement on Friday, Meghan said the letter was sent in 2018. She later clarified that she had misremembered the year and confirmed it was 2019. A spokesperson said it was understandable she might be mistaken by a few months when recalling events from more than seven years ago without a diary entry or contemporaneous record. The spokesperson added that if the Met holds a time-stamped record showing the letter was reviewed in 2019, that should be treated as the accurate reference point.

Sources close to the situation indicated that although Meghan learned of the allegations in 2019, she was unable to speak publicly at the time. They explained that this silence was intended to avoid jeopardizing any potential future investigation. They also noted that speaking out earlier could have led to legal action against her.