Authorities in the Philippines are investigating Thomas Markle, father of Meghan, the wife of Britain's Prince Harry, the Philippine justice undersecretary said on Friday (October 23), after allegations he possessed child sexual abuse images.

"Our Anti-Trafficking and Anti-OSAEC (online sexual abuse and exploitation of children) task force in Cebu is currently investigating the matter," Nicholas Ty, Philippine justice undersecretary, told Reuters.

Reuters could not immediately reach Thomas Markle for comment but he was quoted by the Daily Mail newspaper in Britain as saying the allegations against him were untrue and "sick lies."

Meghan, who married King Charles' younger son and whose royal title is the Duchess of Sussex, said she was "deeply distressed" over the allegations, first published in Britain's the Sun newspaper on Friday.

Meghan said in a statement she had known about the allegations against her father, 82, since 2018 and had prevented him having contact with her children Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5 to protect them.

She has been out of contact with her father since the run-up to her 2018 wedding. Days before the event, Thomas Markle said he would not attend due to ill health after he earlier admitted posing for paparazzi pictures.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Philippine authorities investigate Thomas Markle, father of Meghan, after child sexual abuse images claims

VIDEO SHOWS: FRONT PAGE OF NEWSPAPER FEATURING THOMAS MARKLE, FATHER OF WIFE OF BRITAIN'S PRINCE HARRY, MEGHAN, ALONGSIDE STORY ON CHILD ABUSE IMAGES / BRITAIN'S DUKE AND DUCHESS OF SUSSEX, PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN / ARCHIVE OF NEWSPAPER HEADLINES FEATURING THOMAS MARKLE

SHOWS: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (OCTOBER 23, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

1. FRONT PAGES OF UK NEWSPAPER’S DAILY MAIL, READING (English): “MEGHAN’S FATHER IN STORM OVER CHILD ABUSE PICTURES” AND THE SUN READING (English): “MEGHAN DAD IN CHILD SEX PROBE"

2. FRONT PAGE OF THE SUN READING (English): “MEGHAN DAD IN CHILD SEX PROBE"

3. FRONT PAGE OF DAILY MAIL, READING (English): “MEGHAN’S FATHER IN STORM OVER CHILD ABUSE PICTURES”

4. FRONT PAGE OF THE SUN

5. FRONT PAGES OF THE SUN AND DAILY MAIL

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (OCTOBER 15, 2026) (UK POOL - No use UK, except UK newspapers)

6. BRITAIN'S DUKE AND DUCHESS OF SUSSEX, PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN, ARRIVING AT ACTING WORKSHOP / SHAKING HANDS WITH TEENAGERS

7. VARIOUS OF HARRY AND MEGHAN WATCHING PERFORMANCE DURING ACTING WORKSHOP

8. HARRY AND MEGHAN LEAVING STUDIO

9. VARIOUS OF HARRY AND MEGHAN TALKING TO PEOPLE GATHERED

LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (ARCHIVE - AUGUST 13, 2018) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)

10. PAGE 9 OF AUGUST 13 METRO NEWSPAPER WITH HEADLINE (English): 'MEGHAN'S DAD: I HUNG UP ON HARRY AS HE TOLD ME OFF' AND FRONT PAGES OF AUGUST 12 THE MAIL ON SUNDAY NEWSPAPER WITH HEADLINE (English): 'MEGHAN DAD: I HUNG UP ON PRINCE HARRY' AND AUGUST 13 THE SUN NEWSPAPER WITH HEADLINE (English): 'I'LL NEVER SEE MEG AGAIN'

11. VARIOUS OF FRONT PAGE OF THE SUN NEWSPAPER

LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (ARCHIVE - JULY 5, 2018) (UK POOL - No use UK, except UK newspapers)

12. VARIOUS OF HARRY AND MEGHAN TALKING TO PEOPLE