Full Breakdown
IOPC Launches Probe into Met Police Handling of 2019 Markle Allegation Letter
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
Core Event
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has opened a formal investigation into the Metropolitan Police Service’s handling of a handwritten letter received in 2019 that alleged serious wrongdoing by Thomas Markle Sr., the father of the Duchess of Sussex. The watchdog will examine why the Met did not forward the letter’s contents to law-enforcement agencies in the United States, the Philippines and Thailand at the time they were received.
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Related reporting
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Met Police refers itself to watchdog over handling of Thomas Markle allegations
02
Background & Context
The letter, written by Roslyn Loveless, Markle’s first wife, was delivered to the Met’s royal protection team in early 2019 and passed to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex rather than to Meghan personally. Meghan later disclosed that the letter contained “troubling and disturbing allegations” about her father, prompting her to cease contact with him. Thomas Markle Sr., now 82 and residing in the United States, has denied the accusations, calling them “sick lies.” His son, Thomas Markle Jr., handed four boxes of digital material from Markle’s former home in the Philippines to Philippine authorities in December 2025; the police have obtained a court warrant to examine the seized devices.
Visual evidence
Images from the story
03
Data & Statistics
- Four boxes of material were delivered to Philippine investigators.
- The Met’s internal review confirmed receipt of the letter in January 2019.
04
Official Statements & Responses
- IOPC spokesperson: “Following a voluntary conduct referral from the Met police, we have decided an independent investigation is required into its failure to pass on allegations of serious offending, contained in a letter it received in 2019, to relevant overseas authorities at the time.”
- Thomas Markle Sr. maintains the allegations are false; his daughter Samantha Markle called the claims “fake.”
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Criticism & Opposition
Noel Rasmussen, Thomas Markle’s granddaughter, expressed concern about the Met’s handling of the information, questioning why the allegations were not shared with other law-enforcement agencies.
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On-the-Ground Reports
Philippine investigators in Cebu have begun forensic analysis of the seized devices, pending a court-issued warrant. Footage released on Thursday showed Thomas Markle Jr. present as officials started gathering the material.
07
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Sources differ on the internal routing of the letter: the Met’s statement cites the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre, while other reports indicate the protection command handled it directly.
- No public copy of the original letter has been released, and the Met reportedly had to request a copy from the Sussexes after misplacing its own.
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Verbatim Quotes
- “Following a voluntary conduct referral from the Met police, we have decided an independent investigation is required into its failure to pass on allegations of serious offending, contained in a letter it received in 2019, to relevant overseas authorities at the time.” — IOPC spokesperson
- “If allegations of this seriousness were brought to the attention of authorities, it is reasonable to ask what steps were taken [and] why the information was not shared with other law enforcement agencies.” — Reports
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What’s Next
The IOPC investigation will assess whether Met policies were followed and whether the failure to share the allegations constituted a breach of protocol. The outcome of the Philippine forensic examination will shape the next steps for any criminal proceedings against Thomas Markle Sr.