Thomas Markle arrested by FBI on charges linked to child sexual abuse material, reports say

Meghan Markle's father, Thomas Markle, has been arrested in the U.S. on charges related to child sexual abuse material, according to the Associated Press.

Markle, 82, was reportedly arrested at a care home near Tampa, Fla., Friday and was taken away by federal agents. AP said its sources were not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation.

Last month, it was reported that Markle was under investigation in the Philippines over allegations that he possessed child sexual abuse material. He has not been charged.

The Sun first reported that his son, and Meghan's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., told Philippine police that after his father left the country in May, he discovered images of child sexual abuse material among boxes at his father's former home in Cebu.

Markle Sr. denied those allegations, telling the British newspaper the Daily Mail on Oct. 23: "It's just a bunch of lies. It's sick." He said the computers had not been in his possession since he left Mexico in January 2025 and that he did not know who had access to them. He said he would welcome a forensic examination of the devices.

Meghan Markle released a statement following the claims, saying she was "deeply distressed." She also revealed she had received a copy of a letter containing "troubling" allegations about him in 2019, which had been sent to London's Metropolitan Police.

"It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated," she said. British police subsequently said it had not shared the letter with other law enforcement agencies.

According to British tabloid the Sun on Sunday , Meghan was advised that speaking publicly could jeopardize any potential legal case.

Addressing her decision to keep Archie and Lilibet away from their grandfather over the past few years, Meghan said that "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 added: "My sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children."

Meghan reportedly wrote to her estranged father in December 2025 to tell him she was aware of child abuse allegations against him and would not allow him to meet his grandchildren. Meghan reportedly told her father the letter would be the last time he heard from her.