UK Police Admit Meghan Markle’s Father Allegations Were Not Shared With Other Authorities

British police have confirmed that they received a letter containing allegations about Meghan Markle’s estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., in January 2019, but did not pass the details to other law enforcement agencies. The revelation has prompted the Metropolitan Police to review how the information was handled.

In a statement to PEOPLE on October 24, London’s Metropolitan Police said the letter contained claims of alleged offending outside the United Kingdom. It had been sent to the force’s Protection Command over concerns relating to the security of the Duchess of Sussex.

Police said the letter was reviewed and passed to the office of Prince Harry and Meghan for their awareness. However, the allegations themselves were not shared with other law enforcement agencies.

The force is now examining its handling of the matter and considering whether to refer itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the watchdog responsible for overseeing police conduct in England and Wales.

The confirmation follows Meghan’s public statement expressing deep distress over allegations involving her father. She said she had been made aware of troubling claims after her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry and had been assured that they were being investigated.

A spokesperson for the couple acknowledged that Meghan may have been mistaken about the precise date when she was informed, saying the police’s time-stamped records should be treated as the accurate reference point.

The allegations have emerged amid reports that authorities in the Philippines are investigating claims that Thomas Markle Sr. possessed child sexual abuse material. Those claims have not been established in court, and Markle has denied possessing the material, describing the accusations as lies in comments reported by the Daily Mail.

The Metropolitan Police has clarified that it had not previously investigated Thomas Markle Sr. and is not currently investigating him. Its review concerns the handling of the letter received in 2019.

Meghan has been estranged from her father for years. In her statement, she said her decision to maintain distance and prevent him from having contact with her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, was intended to protect them.

The latest developments raise questions about how information concerning alleged criminal activity is handled when it involves people living outside the United Kingdom. The Met’s internal review will examine its actions, while any decision to refer the matter to the police watchdog remains under consideration.

Source: PEOPLE