Metropolitan Police Review Handling of 2019 Thomas Markle Letter

London’s Metropolitan Police announced it is reviewing its handling of a 2019 letter containing severe allegations against Thomas Markle Sr., the estranged father of the Duchess of Sussex. The force admitted that it received the document in January 2019 through its Protection Command and chose to share it with the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for awareness, but failed to forward the information to other law enforcement agencies such as the FBI or the National Crime Agency.

The multi-page letter, which has recently come to light, was written by Thomas Markle's late ex-wife, Roslyn Loveless, before her death in 2024. In the document, Loveless raised multiple claims about alleged misconduct outside the United Kingdom. Following the revelation that the information was not passed on to international authorities, Scotland Yard stated it is considering whether a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct is necessary to review its approach.

The scrutiny comes as law enforcement officials in the Philippines investigate Thomas Markle over allegations that he possessed child sexual abuse material. The investigation was initiated after his son, Thomas Markle Jr., reported finding a massive trove of illicit images and digital devices in boxes at his father's former residence in Cebu. Philippine authorities and the FBI are currently examining the recovered digital evidence, with forensic results anticipated shortly.

Thomas Markle, who is 82 and currently residing in a Florida rehabilitation center following a leg amputation, has strongly denied all allegations. In statements to the press, he called the accusations sick lies and stated that the computers in question had not been in his possession since he left Mexico in January 2025. He maintained that he had never harmed anyone and would welcome a full forensic examination of the devices.

The Duchess of Sussex issued a public statement expressing deep distress over the developments and emphasizing that her ongoing estrangement from her father was strictly a protective measure for her children. Representatives for the Duchess noted that she had been informed of the contents of the 2019 police letter years ago and had been advised against speaking out publicly to avoid interfering with potential legal processes.

Former police officials and child protection advocates have heavily criticized Scotland Yard's past inaction. Jim Gamble, the former head of the National Crime Agency's child exploitation command, stated that failing to alert the FBI or international networks created a dangerous window where potential risks to children went unaddressed by foreign authorities. As investigators in the Philippines and the United States continue their inquiries, pressure remains high on British police to clarify their protocols regarding foreign jurisdictions.