Full Breakdown
Metropolitan Police Refers 2019 Letter on Thomas Markle Allegations to Watchdog
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
Core Event
The letter, written by Roslyn Loveless—Thomas Markle Sr’s first wife—was passed to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s office rather than to other law-enforcement agencies. The Met’s review focuses on why the letter was not shared with foreign authorities and why the original copy was misplaced, prompting the self-referral.
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02
Background & Context
Loveless sent the letter to the Met’s royal protection team in January 2019, alleging that Markle Sr possessed child-sexual-abuse material and had engaged in illegal activity abroad. Meghan Markle confirmed receipt and said it led her to cut off contact with her father.
In 2024–2025, Philippine authorities obtained a warrant to examine four boxes of devices seized from Markle Sr’s former home in Cebu. Markle Sr, now 82 and residing in a Florida rehabilitation centre after a leg amputation, has denied the allegations, calling them “sick lies.” His son, Thomas Markle Jr, reported the findings to Philippine police and the U.S. FBI.
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03
Timeline
- January 2019 – Met receives Loveless’s letter and forwards it to the Sussex office.
- 2019-2023 – No further action reported; the Met later admits it did not share the letter with overseas agencies.
- Early 2024 – Meghan Markle publicly acknowledges the letter and expresses distress.
- Mid-2024 – Philippine police secure a warrant to examine devices from the Cebu residence.
- 2024-2025 – Met conducts an internal review and refers the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
- 2025 – Markle Sr moves to the United States after a stroke and leg amputation; investigations continue in the Philippines.
04
Data & Statistics
- Four boxes of computers, phones, hard drives and videotapes were handed to Philippine police.
- Hundreds of alleged child-sexual-abuse images were reported in the seized material.
05
Official Statements & Responses
The Met confirmed the decision to pass the letter to the Sussex office and that details were not shared with other agencies. Philippine Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla said a forensic examination will provide a “definitive picture” of the material found.
06
Criticism & Opposition
Child-exploitation expert Jim Gamble argued that standard protocol would have required the Met to alert the FBI or other foreign agencies when receiving information about a possible threat to children from abroad.
Meghan Markle’s half-sister Noel Rasmussen said “questions deserve clear, transparent answers” regarding why the Met did not share the warning.
07
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Outlets differ on the quantity of seized material, describing it as “hundreds” or “hundreds, if not thousands.”
- The Met misplaced its original copy of the Loveless letter; the only version available came from Meghan Markle’s personal copy.
- Buckingham Palace has not commented on whether the royal household was informed of the Met’s internal review.
08
What’s Next
The IOPC will decide whether a formal investigation of the Met’s 2019 handling is warranted. Philippine prosecutors will continue forensic analysis of the seized devices, with a preliminary report expected within weeks. Thomas Markle Sr has offered to undergo additional forensic examination of his computers and expressed willingness to cooperate.