Meghan says she is 'deeply distressed' as Philippine authorities investigate allegations against her father

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, issued a statement Friday after reports that authorities in the Philippines are investigating her father over alleged possession of child sexual abuse material, according to ABC-owned stations including 6abc Action News and ABC7 Los Angeles. He has not been charged and has denied the allegations.

"I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed," Meghan said, as reported by ABC7 Chicago.

The ABC stations, citing the British tabloid The Sun, reported that Meghan's half-brother went to police in the Philippines and alleged that he had found images on their father's phone and computers.

In a Facebook post Friday, the government-run Philippine News Agency said the country's Department of Justice was looking into reports about an American man in his 80s who allegedly left abuse videos and photos at his home in Cebu province, the ABC stations reported. Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty told the agency that a task force on trafficking and online sexual exploitation of children was handling the inquiry. The agency also said the man had since gone to the United States for medical care.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Meghan's father rejected the accusations, calling them "sick lies," according to the ABC stations. He told the paper the computers had not been in his possession since he left Rosarito, Mexico, in January 2025. ABC News said it had been unable to reach him or his son for comment.

In her statement, Meghan said she first learned of allegations against her father in 2018, when a letter sent to London's Metropolitan Police and its royal protection unit was passed on to her. She said she was told at the time that the claims were being investigated, but she did not describe what they involved.

The Metropolitan Police told ABC News it was aware of media reports that officers from its Royalty and Specialist Protection Command had passed along a letter in 2018, and that it was conducting internal inquiries to confirm this.

The FBI also said it was aware of the allegations. An FBI official told ABC News the bureau would assist Philippine authorities as appropriate and would look into any related possible violations of U.S. federal law.

Meghan and her father have been estranged since her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, England. He did not attend after it emerged that he had been paid by paparazzi to stage photos, and King Charles III walked her down the aisle, the ABC stations reported.

Compiled by True News from reporting by 6abc Action News, ABC7 Los Angeles, ABC7 News Bay Area and ABC7 Chicago. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/407