Authorities in Mexico and the Philippines are investigating allegations of child sexual abuse material linked to Thomas Markle, the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. On Friday, police in Baja California conducted a raid on a storage unit near Rosarito, Mexico, that was previously leased by Markle. The search warrant, signed by Judge Estefany Moreno Gutierrez, authorized investigators to seize evidence related to child sexual abuse and possible aggravated human trafficking.
During the raid, law enforcement officials confiscated computers, thumb drives, VHS tapes, magazines, and photographic negatives. Some of the material reportedly includes images and videos depicting children being sexually abused, as well as photographs of young naked Asian females. The storage unit, measuring approximately five by ten feet, had been unpaid for around two years, and Markle relocated to the Philippines early last year without clearing the contents. Staff at the storage facility expressed shock upon discovering the materials.
The investigation follows earlier reports that Thomas Markle Jr., the son of Markle Sr., found hundreds or potentially thousands of child sexual abuse images in boxes shipped to the Philippines, where Markle also lived until recently. Philippine authorities have continued to examine digital evidence recovered from Markle’s residence in Cebu City. The city is known as a focal point for human trafficking and online child exploitation investigations. In response to the allegations, Markle Sr., who is currently residing in a nursing facility in Florida after undergoing a leg amputation, has denied any wrongdoing, labeling the accusations as "sick lies."
Further complicating the case are revelations about a 2019 handwritten letter sent by Markle’s first wife, Roslyn Loveless, to the Metropolitan Police in London. The letter, reportedly containing serious allegations of child sexual abuse by Markle and references to his travels to Southeast Asia, was said to have been conveyed privately to Meghan and Prince Harry by royal protection officers. Meghan was reportedly advised not to make the contents public amid criticism over her estrangement from her father. The letter was handled by officers within the Royal and Specialist Protection unit but was not escalated to police leadership or shared with law enforcement agencies in the United States or Southeast Asia.
The Metropolitan Police have stated that they did not investigate the claims as the alleged offenses were outside their jurisdiction, and key royal aides—including Meghan and Harry’s former communications staff and private secretaries to senior royals—were reportedly unaware of the letter and its contents. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched a review into how the letter was managed and whether appropriate actions were taken.
Despite the emergent allegations, representatives associated with Thomas Markle have disputed the connection to the material found in Mexico, including statements denying his fingerprints on the items seized there, and asserting that the FBI lacks jurisdiction in Mexico. Markle Sr. has also publicly denied owning the storage unit in Rosarito.
Meanwhile, the Duchess of Sussex and her family have not publicly commented further on the investigation following her earlier statement acknowledging receipt of the 2019 letter. She emphasized that her decision to distance herself and her children from her father was solely for their protection and expressed hope that justice would be served, prioritizing the safety of innocent children.
The ongoing investigations involve Mexican state prosecutors, the Mexican National Guard, and FBI agents based in Florida and Southern California. The case is seen as potentially exposing criminal conduct spanning multiple countries and raises questions about the handling of sensitive intelligence within both law enforcement and royal circles.