Philippine court approves police search of devices from Thomas Markle Sr's former home

Court clears search of seized devices

On Thursday, 29 October 2026, a court in Cebu granted police permission to examine digital devices seized from the former home of Thomas Markle Sr in the Philippines, according to media reports. The items include computers, phones, hard drives and old VHS tapes, and officers could not open them without a judicial order. Four boxes of material were handed to police by Thomas Markle Jr. in the week of 19 October, and the warrant is the next step in a case that began when he reported finding alleged child sexual abuse images at his father's former property. Cebu regional prosecutor Graeme Elmido told the BBC that Markle Jr. was "adamant" the case should be investigated and felt his father "has to answer for it".

The son's account

Thomas Markle Jr., who is 60, said he came across a video of alleged abuse on a phone that had belonged to his father, after Markle Sr had returned to the United States for an amputation. He then contacted the FBI, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the Pennsylvania state police, and reportedly found more material as he did so. He said he had begun questioning his family history, including the times his father quickly shut his laptop. The Sun first reported the allegations, and Markle Jr. later described the material in a video for the paper. Describing his reaction, he said:

“I'm on the hook for this, now.”

Denials and open questions

Thomas Markle Sr., 82, denies all the allegations and has called his son's claims "sick lies". He moved to the Philippines last year after a series of strokes and lived in Cebu until May. He is reportedly now at a rehabilitation centre in Florida, learning to walk again after having his leg amputated. Police say they must establish how the material was obtained before they can consider any criminal charges. The articles report no charge against him, and the warrant concerns examining the seized material.

Meghan's statement and the 2019 letter

Meghan Markle, who has been estranged from her father since 2018, issued a statement on 23 October in which she said:

“I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed.”

Her statement says a letter with troubling allegations about her father was sent to the Metropolitan Police in 2018 and later shared with her, and that she was assured the claims were being investigated. Other reports date the allegations to 2019, and the Sun on Sunday reported in the week of 19 October that his former wife had sent the letter. The Metropolitan Police reportedly took no action on it and later misplaced it. She said she had largely cut off contact with her father and did not allow him contact with her children.