Updated Nov. 6, 2026, 1:24 p.m. ET
Thomas Markle, Sr., the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has been arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Markle was arrested Friday, Nov. 6, in Florida and charged with one count of possession of child pornography, according to a statement from the bureau. According to the FBI, Markle kept child sexual abuse material, including sexually explicit photographs of himself with prepubescent girls, in two Los Angeles-area storage units that he rented for nearly two decades.
Markle will make his first court appearance Friday in United States District Court in Tampa’s Middle District of Florida.
Daily Mail was first to report the news of Markle’s arrest at Maravida Senior Living, a specialized elderly care facility in North Lakeland, Florida. FBI agents stormed into his home after allegedly discovering “troves of indecent materials” at properties associated with Markle in the Philippines and Mexico, the outlet reported.
USA TODAY has reached out to Maravida Senior Living and Mexican law enforcement for comment.
The arrest comes after police in the Philippines launched an investigation into the 82-year-old, who allegedly kept a stash of child sex images inside his home in Cebu. Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., reportedly found several boxes of material and turned them in to authorities.
Markle has denied the allegations, calling the claims “sick lies.” In an interview with the Daily Mail, he admitted to paying for sex in the Philippines but said he had never been intimate with anyone underage.
The Duchess of Sussex had no comment. The Palace had no comment and referred inquiries to the Sussexes.
In a statement to USA TODAY in October, the FBI said it was aware of the allegations and that it would provide support, as appropriate, to the Philippine authorities. The federal law enforcement agency also said it would “investigate any related allegations of federal violations of U.S. law.”
Meghan’s half-brother named ‘person of interest’ in Philippine inquiry
Before the reported arrest of their father, Philippine authorities named Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., 60, a “person of interest” in a child sex-abuse investigation. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Markle Jr. was not being treated as a suspect at that stage, The Guardian reported Nov. 5.
Markle Jr. had previously reported his father to authorities after claiming to have discovered child sex abuse material at his father’s Philippines home. His dad has denied possessing such material or having sex with anyone under 18.
Meghan ‘deeply distressed’ about claims against estranged father
In October, Meghan issued a statement saying that she was “deeply distressed” over the news that police were investigating her father, calling the claims “sickening.” She expressed hope that people would understand why she cut her father out of her life almost a decade ago.
The duchess said that she first became aware of “disturbing allegations” against her dad in 2019 and that she had severed ties with her father to protect her children – Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5 – whom she shares with her husband, Prince Harry.
“My thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed,” Meghan said in the Oct. 23. statement.
If you are a survivor of sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or visit hotline.rainn.org/online and receive confidential support.
This is a developing story.
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