Meghan Markle is offering her first real explanation for the years-long rift with her father, Thomas Markle. In a statement to Page Six, the Duchess of Sussex said she is“deeply distressed”by the child pornography investigation into her father, and revealed that a 2018 letter to the Metropolitan Police containing troubling allegations against him was shared with her and she was told it was being investigated. That same year, she married Prince Harry.
Meghan connected that letter directly to her decisions since, saying her distance from her father and her choice to keep him from having contact with Archie and Lilibet was“for one reason: to protect them.”She added that her thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed, and that the breadth of what has been uncovered is more sickening than she could imagine. Thomas Markle did not attend the royal wedding in 2018 and has not publicly responded in this statement’s telling.
The investigation is still developing, so expect more headlines in the coming days. For now, the story that pop culture thought it had figured out looks very different. Does this statement change how you see the Meghan and Thomas Markle rift? Sound off in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.