Meghan Markle's description of grieving her estrangement from her father has drawn renewed attention after reports of suspected child sexual abuse material at a Mexican storage unit allegedly linked to Thomas Markle, who denies wrongdoing and disputes any connection to the premises.
The Duchess of Sussex spoke about their fractured relationship during her March 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey. Her more recent explanation for keeping Thomas away from her children centres on concerns about their safety following allegations she says were brought to her attention years earlier.
"I grieve a lot. I mean, I've lost my father," Meghan told Winfrey, according to the BBC. She was referring to the loss of their relationship, not his death, and did not publicly connect those remarks to allegations of child sexual abuse.
The latest reporting concerns a storage unit in Rosarito, Mexico. The Daily Mail said rental records linked the unit to Thomas and alleged that suspected abuse material was found among photographs, correspondence and other possessions.
Thomas rejected that account, telling the newspaper: "I had no storage units in Rosarito!"
Mexican authorities subsequently searched the premises and reportedly removed electronic devices, videotapes and magazines before sealing the unit. The reports do not establish what investigators found on those items or whether they reached conclusions about ownership or criminal conduct.
The Daily Mail said it notified the FBI. That notification does not establish that the bureau opened an investigation.
The Mexico claims followed separate allegations in the Philippines, where Thomas Markle Jr. said he discovered suspected abuse material among his father's belongings. Thomas Sr. also denied those accusations, describing them as "the worst thing anyone could accuse me of."
Meghan said she was "deeply distressed" when the allegations became public. She explained that preventing contact between her father and Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, was intended to protect them. Thomas has never met either child, according to the reporting.
Her statement also expressed concern for any children who might have been harmed and urged that their safety remain the priority.
Questions about an earlier warning have focused on a letter reportedly written by Thomas's first wife, Roslyn Loveless. According to the Daily Mail, Meghan was shown the correspondence in January 2019, months before Archie's birth, after it reached a specialist Metropolitan Police unit.
The Times reported that Meghan considered speaking publicly about the allegations but was encouraged by a member of her royal protection team to leave the matter with authorities.
"Leave it with us, we'll investigate it," the officer allegedly told her.
The Metropolitan Police later confirmed that it had not passed the allegations to law enforcement agencies in the countries where the alleged offences occurred, according to the reports. The force reportedly referred itself to the police watchdog over its handling of the letter; that referral does not itself establish misconduct.
The public rupture between Meghan and Thomas began around her May 2018 wedding to Prince Harry. Thomas collaborated with a photographer on staged pictures showing preparations for the ceremony. After the arrangement became public, he did not attend, citing health problems.
