Meghan Markle issues statement after child sexual abuse image allegations against estranged father Thomas Markle Sr

Summary

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has released a statement after child sexual abuse image allegations were made against her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr, 82, according to The Guardian and CBS News. Reports say she is 'deeply distressed' by the allegations. The Guardian says the allegations cast her decision to cut ties with her father in a new light and challenge media portrayals of her as a fame-hungry daughter who has abandoned an elderly parent. Euronews reports that the two have been estranged since 2018, when he was caught staging paparazzi photos before her wedding to Prince Harry, and CBS News notes that he did not attend that wedding.

Timeline

1. The Guardian

   23 Oct 2026, 14:31 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that the Duchess of Sussex's statement, released after child sexual abuse image allegations were made against Thomas Markle Sr, 82, casts her decision to cut ties with her father in a new light, and argues that the allegations challenge media portrayals of her as a fame-hungry daughter.

2. CBS News

   23 Oct 2026, 15:48 UTCSource ↗

   CBS News reports that Meghan Markle is publicly sharing her distress after allegations that her estranged father possessed images of child sexual abuse, and notes that he did not attend her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.

3. Euronews

   23 Oct 2026, 17:46 UTCSource ↗

   Euronews reports that Markle has been estranged from her father since 2018, when he was caught staging paparazzi photos in the run-up to her wedding to Prince Harry.