Met was warned Thomas Markle posed threat to Meghan and Harry
The Metropolitan Police was warned that Thomas Markle could pose a threat to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the Telegraph can reveal.
A letter was sent to Scotland Yard in 2019 accusing the Duchess of Sussex’s father of child sexual offences.
It can now be revealed that the letter, written by Roslyn Markle (nee Loveless), who was married to Markle from 1964 to 1975, also warned he could pose a security risk to both the duke and duchess.
She said she felt it was “useful for security and threat assessment units in the UK” to be aware of the “true and unsavoury background” her former husband was accused of.
She said she felt he was “a high risk to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and to Doria Ragland [the Duchess’ mother]”.
Roslyn Markle added that she had not spoken to the media about the issues raised in the letter.
The Met did not respond when asked by the Telegraph to comment on whether it took any action after being made aware of the potential threat to the newly married royal couple.
The letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police’s Fixed Threat Assessment Centre (FTAC), which deals with threats posed to the royal family and VIPs.
The Met is assessing whether to refer itself to the police watchdog over its handling of the correspondence, which was shared with the couple at the time.
The force previously admitted it had not shared the allegations of alleged child abuse contained in the letter with any overseas authorities.
It is understood that the duchess was told not to discuss the letter and had believed that it was being investigated.
In the letter, Roslyn Markle said her former husband allegedly told her he went to the Philippines and Thailand “because 12-year-olds are legal there”.
Just after Prince Archie was born, she gave a rare interview in which she said that Markle was an “awful father” and should not be allowed to see his grandson.
The couple divorced in 1975, four years before Markle married Ragland.
Markle has denied all the allegations against him, and said that he had never had sex with anyone under the age of 18.
Earlier this year, it emerged that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would have a review of their publicly funded security following their return to the UK.
The royal and VIP executive committee (Ravec), which oversees tax-funded security for royalty and public figures, is reconsidering their level of police protection.
Last year, the duke lost a legal challenge against the Home Office after the automatic tax-funded security for him and his family was withdrawn when the couple stood down as working members of the royal family.
Police in the Philippines are investigating Markle, 82, for allegedly possessing “hundreds, if not thousands” of child sexual abuse images found in recent months. He moved to the country in January 2025 before leaving in May.
His son, Thomas jnr, is said to have handed a dossier of evidence to the Philippine authorities.
On Sunday, Jonvic Remulla, the Philippines’ interior minister, said that it appeared Markle was a “sex offender of the grossest kind”, although further forensic analysis was needed to be definitive.
He confirmed that Philippine police were investigating a laptop found alongside images of child abuse at the former home of Markle.
Authorities in the Southeast Asian country are expected to complete a forensic examination within a week.
Remulla said the country planned to take “appropriate legal actions” against Markle if sufficient evidence was found.
The duchess wrote to her father while he was in hospital last year, accusing him of being unsafe around children, saying he would never be permitted to meet her own and urging him to seek professional help.
Markle, who is in a rehabilitation centre in Florida after having his leg amputated, may also face an investigation in the US because it is understood that he was living in Pennsylvania when the alleged offences occurred.
The FBI said it was “aware of the allegations and will provide support, as appropriate, to the Philippine authorities”.
“We will also investigate any related allegations of federal violations of US law,” a spokesman added.
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