The Metropolitan Police faced criticism after admitting it did not act on a 2019 letter alleging child abuse against Thomas Markle, father of the Duchess of Sussex. Former National Crime Agency child exploitation chief Jim Gamble expressed concern that this failure potentially allowed abuse to continue for up to seven years.
The letter, reportedly authored by Mr. Markle’s ex-wife Roslyn Loveless—mother to the duchess’s half-siblings Samantha and Thomas Jr.—accused him of paedophilia. Loveless died in 2024. Samantha Markle has questioned her mother’s credibility, describing the letter as motivated by "hatred and bitterness." Thomas Markle has denied all wrongdoing.
Mr. Gamble told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that there was a "well-worn path" for police to share serious allegations with international law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI and the National Crime Agency, which handles cross-border cases. He called it "difficult to understand" why the Metropolitan Police did not pursue this route, especially since the letter indicated potential risks to children.
He also noted that the Metropolitan Police appeared to have judged the claims credible enough to inform the Duchess of Sussex but did not escalate the concerns to other authorities. “I would have expected the Metropolitan Police to have gone to the FBI to say ‘Look, this isn’t proven... you might want to look at it,’” Mr. Gamble said. He emphasized that safeguarding children should have been the priority and that the case warranted an external review, suggesting the police might refer themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
The Metropolitan Police acknowledged in a statement that allegations of child sexual abuse are investigated thoroughly and sensitively, affirming their commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals. They said ongoing investigations would remain robust.
The letter was reportedly misplaced by the Met, requiring them to request a copy from the Duchess of Sussex, who had retained it. Meghan Markle and her father have been estranged since at least 2018, following a public fallout involving staged paparazzi photos.
Last December, after Thomas Markle underwent a leg amputation in the Philippines, Meghan reportedly wrote to him warning that he posed a risk to children and would not be allowed to meet his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet.
Authorities in the Philippines are currently investigating Mr. Markle in connection with claims of possession of child sexual abuse material, including images allegedly depicting him engaging in sexual acts with an underage girl. The investigation is linked to an international operation focusing on a US man accused of similar offences and remains ongoing.