Thomas Markle, USA News: Thomas Markle Sr’s late wife has been revealed as the author of a letter sent to the Metropolitan Police accusing him of alleged sex crimes. Scotland Yard confirmed on Saturday that it received a January 2019 letter containing the claims against the estranged father of the Duchess of Sussex.
This development follows allegations against 82-year-old Thomas Sr concerning the alleged possession of child sexual abuse imagery while living in the Philippines. Philippine authorities confirmed they are investigating the claims after Thomas Markle Jr, the Duchess’s half-brother, reported finding the alleged stash. Thomas Sr has strenuously denied all allegations.
The Duchess of Sussex stated on Friday that she was shown a letter containing troubling allegations about her father in 2018, with her spokesman later clarifying that the Metropolitan Police’s 2019 timing was correct. Roslyn Loveless, who was married to Thomas Markle from 1964 to 1975, has now been identified as the letter’s author according to multiple reports. Loveless, who died in 2024, was the mother of the Duchess’s half-siblings, Samantha and Thomas Jr. She divorced Thomas Markle four years before he married Doria Ragland, the Duchess’s mother, in 1979.
Metropolitan Police Statement
In a statement released on Saturday regarding the 2019 letter, the Met said: “Following a thorough review of Met Police systems and records, we have confirmed that in January 2019, we received a letter containing a number of claims about alleged offending outside the United Kingdom. It was sent to the MPS Protection Command to raise concerns in relation to the security of the Duchess of Sussex. The letter was reviewed, and a decision was made that it should be passed to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their awareness. The details of the allegations in the letter were not shared with other law enforcement agencies.”
The Metropolitan Police Service is reviewing its handling of the matter from 2019 and is considering whether a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct is necessary to review its approach. The force is not currently investigating the claims against Thomas Sr and has not investigated them previously.
Timeline Discrepancy and Denials
Meghan initially stated she was shown the letter in 2018 and was assured the force was investigating. Addressing the timeline mix-up, the Duchess’s spokesman explained that recalling events from more than seven years ago without contemporaneous records can lead to minor discrepancies. The spokesman noted that time-stamped police records should be treated as the accurate reference point.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Thomas Sr expressed shock and hurt over the accusations made by his son, calling them lies and sick fabrications. Meanwhile, the FBI stated it is aware of the allegations and will provide support to Philippine authorities as appropriate, while also investigating any related violations of U.S. federal law.
