Federal prosecutors say Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s estranged father possessed suspected abuse material found in two Los Angeles-area storage units.
Thomas Markle Sr., the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was arrested Friday in Florida on a federal complaint alleging that he possessed child sexual abuse material kept in two Los Angeles-area storage units. The 82-year-old was arrested at a senior care facility in Lakeland and later appeared in federal court in Tampa.
Federal prosecutors in the Central District of California charged Markle with one count of possession of child pornography. The charge is contained in a criminal complaint, meaning the allegations have not been proven in court and Markle is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said FBI agents searched two storage units registered to Markle after investigators learned in October that suspected child sexual abuse material had allegedly been found among his belongings in the Philippines. Authorities said Markle had rented both California units since 2008 and that payments were still being made by automatic payment in October.
Agents seized about 78 items from the units, including slides, film negatives and books that investigators said contained suspected child sexual abuse material. An FBI affidavit describes several images, including two that allegedly show an adult man with a nude prepubescent girl.
According to prosecutors, a witness who had known Markle for decades identified the adult man in those photographs as Markle. The affidavit also describes another image of a nude prepubescent girl in a room that investigators said appeared to be connected to a motel chain in the Philippines.
The Justice Department said investigators also found additional photographs that appeared to show Markle with children in various stages of undress. The agency has not publicly released the images, and the descriptions in the affidavit remain allegations that prosecutors would have to prove in court.
Federal officials stressed the seriousness of the accusations while noting that the investigation remains active. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said Markle is accused of possessing child sexual abuse material, including photographs allegedly depicting him with minor girls.
After his arrest, Markle appeared before a federal magistrate judge in Tampa. He was released under court-imposed conditions that include electronic monitoring and residence at a senior care center, according to the Associated Press.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Lindsay Griffin also ordered a psychiatric examination to evaluate whether Markle can understand the proceedings and properly assist his attorney. The federal case is expected to move to California, where the complaint was filed, but prosecutors said further proceedings there may not occur for several weeks.
No plea was entered during the Florida appearance.
If convicted of the federal possession charge, Markle faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The federal investigation developed after allegations surfaced in the Philippines. Thomas Markle Jr., Meghan’s half brother, said he discovered suspected child sexual abuse images among possessions at his father’s former home and reported the material to authorities.
Philippine authorities confirmed in October that they were investigating the allegations. Markle Sr. denied wrongdoing before his arrest, calling the accusations “sick lies” in an interview with the Daily Mail.
The Justice Department said information from people interviewed during the investigation led agents to the two California storage units. Officials have not publicly identified any alleged victims, and the Associated Press reported that prosecutors said investigators had found no evidence from the seized material of victims in the United States.
The FBI affidavit provides only part of the government’s case at this stage. A federal complaint can be used to support an arrest while prosecutors continue investigating and decide whether to seek an indictment from a grand jury.
The case has also renewed attention on earlier allegations that Meghan says were brought to her attention years ago. In an October statement, the Duchess of Sussex said she was “deeply distressed” by reports involving her father and said her thoughts were with any children who may have been harmed.
Meghan said a letter containing “troubling and disturbing allegations” about her father was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection in 2018. She said the letter was later shared with her and that she was given assurances the allegations were being investigated.
That account differs from reports suggesting Meghan first learned of the allegations in 2019. The Metropolitan Police later said it received a letter containing claims concerning Markle and reviewed how the information had been handled.
Meghan has also said her decision to keep her father from having contact with her children was intended to protect them. The BBC reported that she sent Markle a letter in 2025 telling him he would not meet his grandchildren after she had learned of allegations involving him.
Markle, a retired television lighting director, has been estranged from Meghan for years. He did not attend her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry at Windsor Castle, and their relationship became the subject of extensive public and tabloid coverage afterward.
He had been living in the Philippines before returning to the United States for medical care. Reporting from the BBC and other outlets said he underwent a leg amputation and was recovering in Florida at the time of his arrest.
The criminal case remains at an early stage. The FBI says its investigation is continuing, and any additional charges or evidence would have to be presented through the federal court process.
IMAGE: Meghan Markle Source GG.Govt.nz Author Office of the Governor-General CC4