Meghan Markle’s Father Arrested in Florida Over Alleged Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

Thomas Markle Sr., the father of Meghan Markle, wife of Britain’s Prince Harry, has been arrested in the United States over allegations that he possessed images and videos related to child sexual abuse. The 82-year-old was arrested in Florida on Friday, November 6.

According to reports by Al Jazeera and The Associated Press (AP) on Saturday, November 7, the US Department of Justice said law enforcement officers searched two storage units rented by Thomas in the Los Angeles area and found sexually explicit images involving underage girls. He had reportedly rented and used the units for nearly two decades.

FBI Director Kash Patel said on Thursday that Thomas Markle had allegedly targeted innocent children and sought to rob them of their childhood and innocence through criminal acts.

According to the Justice Department, an individual submitted an affidavit in October alleging that child sexual abuse material had been found among Thomas Markle’s belongings in the Philippines. Law enforcement officers later interviewed another person, who said that the 82-year-old had been renting a storage unit near Los Angeles since 2008.

Based on the initial information, investigators identified a second storage unit. After obtaining court warrants, FBI agents searched both units. They seized 78 items, including photographs, film negatives and books. The Justice Department said the materials included sexually explicit images involving Thomas and underage girls.

The criminal affidavit described three photographs. Two reportedly showed a man with a nude prepubescent girl. A witness identified the man as Thomas, according to the affidavit. The third photograph showed a nude underage girl in what appeared to be a hotel room in the Philippines. The affidavit also mentioned photographs that appeared to show Thomas with children in various stages of undress.

Thomas Markle was living in the Philippines earlier this year when he suffered a stroke and had his left leg amputated. He subsequently returned to the United States.

In a statement to The New York Times in October, Meghan Markle expressed concern over the allegations against her father. She said she first learned of the allegations in 2018, when a letter detailing them was sent to a unit of London’s Metropolitan Police responsible for her security at the time.

Meghan said she was “deeply distressed” by the news that had emerged over the previous 24 hours and that her thoughts were with any children who may have been harmed.

She added that, despite what she described as media misrepresentation over the years, her decision to remain distant from her father and prevent him from having contact with her children had been made for one reason: to protect them.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump’s administration has faced criticism over its handling of investigations and prosecutions involving child sexual abuse. The release of investigative files related to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein has been a particular source of controversy.

Last year, King Charles III stripped Prince Andrew of his royal titles amid controversy surrounding his association with Epstein.

Meghan, Prince Harry and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, moved back to the United Kingdom in August.

Thomas was expected to appear before a court in Florida on Friday. According to subsequent reports, he appeared in federal court in Tampa and was released subject to electronic monitoring. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in a US federal prison, the Justice Department said.