Meghan Markle Was ‘Assured’ Her Father Would Be Investigated, but ‘Nothing Was Done’, Friend Says
Meghan Markle is upset at how the letter detailing the allegations was handled in 2019.
Trigger Warning: This article contains themes of child s*xual abuse and potentially distressing material that some readers may find distressing.
Meghan Markle’s initial statement about the horrifying allegations against her father, Thomas Markle, understandably raised eyebrows after she revealed she was made aware of the 'troubling' claims several years ago. The Duchess of Sussex said the Met Police received the letter and passed it to her, detailing the 'disturbing allegations'. At the time, she was reportedly assured the matter would be investigated. But what actually transpired has been nothing short of underwhelming.
Last week, the Met Police said they had never launched a probe, likely because it fell outside their British jurisdiction. However, they also did not share this crucial information with other law enforcement agencies. The force had received the letter in 2019, and sharing it with other relevant authorities could have made a big difference. They are now considering referring the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over how it was handled.
The revelation has left Markle 'upset' and 'frustrated,' especially since she was reportedly advised not to speak on the subject. "She's obviously upset and really frustrated that, having effectively been told to stay quiet and having been given assurances it would be investigated, it appears nothing was done,” a friend of hers said via Hello!
While the handling of the letter may have irritated Markle, her friend says she is “obviously pleased” that the Met Police is considering referring itself “to the police watchdog”. The force will naturally face questions about why it didn’t share the information and whether prompt action in 2019 could have prevented further harm to children.
When Markle received the letter, she was reportedly told everything was “all in hand”. But the scandal has only revealed bigger holes in how the force handled the allegations seven years ago. The former head of Royal Protection Command, Dai Davies, has also said he's shocked by the situation. “It frankly beggars belief that they didn't contact any other law enforcement agencies. I'm gobsmacked that they didn't,” he said.
The Met Police is not currently launching an investigation either. However, authorities in the Philippines are investigating the matter after finding the disturbing material at Thomas’s former home in the country. The FBI is also reportedly providing support and investigating "potential US federal law violations". Thomas has denied the allegations.
If you know of any children who are being subjected to abuse, please contact The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at (800) 422-4453
