Meghan Markle’s father Thomas Markle Sr arrested by FBI in Florida over alleged child sexual abuse material

Thomas Markle Sr, the estranged father of Meghan Markle, has been arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Florida in connection with allegations of possessing child sexual abuse material, according to reports.

The development comes weeks after disturbing claims emerged that hundreds of images depicting child sexual abuse had allegedly been discovered at a property linked to him in the Philippines.

Markle, 82, had previously rejected the allegations, dismissing them as 'sick lies'.

The latest development has brought renewed attention to the long-standing estrangement between him and his daughter, the Duchess of Sussex, who had earlier spoken about her concerns surrounding allegations against her father.

How did the allegations against Thomas Markle Sr emerge?

The case reportedly came to light after Meghan's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, made a disturbing discovery while clearing out their father's former residence in Cebu, Philippines.

According to a report by The Sun, Markle Jr came across several boxes containing electronic equipment, including mobile phones, memory cards, computers and hard drives. He allegedly found images depicting child sexual abuse among the material and subsequently handed the devices and other evidence over to local police.

He also reportedly approached the FBI in the United States, prompting further attention to the allegations.

Earlier reports claimed that hundreds of images were allegedly recovered from the property. However, Thomas Markle Sr. denied the allegations.

What has Meghan Markle said about the allegations against her father?

Meghan Markle had previously indicated that she was aware of troubling allegations concerning her father dating back to 2018.

\In a statement shared with Fox News Digital, the Duchess of Sussex said she was 'deeply distressed' by the reports and expressed concern for any children who might have been harmed.

She also addressed the years-long estrangement from her father, explaining that her decision to keep him away from her children was rooted in their safety and protection.

'I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications’ distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason: to protect them,' she said.

Meghan further revealed that she had sent a letter outlining allegations against her father to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection in 2018. She said she later received the contents of the communication.

What did the Metropolitan Police say?

British authorities also took note of the allegations. On October 24, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that it had received a letter in January 2019 containing claims relating to alleged offences committed outside the United Kingdom.

The police statement added another dimension to the case, given that concerns about Thomas Markle Sr had reportedly been raised with authorities several years before the latest developments.

The allegations have now drawn renewed scrutiny following the reported FBI arrest in Florida.