LONDON: Prince Harry’s wife Meghan said on Friday she was “deeply distressed” by accusations her father had possessed images of child abuse, adding she had blocked contact between him and her children over previous “troubling and disturbing” 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, the Duchess of Sussex, said in the statement.

The Sun and Daily Mail newspapers reported that images had allegedly been found among her estranged father Thomas Markle’s belongings at his former home in the Philippines. He denies all the claims.

After the reports, Meghan revealed that in 2018 she had seen a letter sent to London’s Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection making similar accusations.

“It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated,” she said in a statement.

Thomas Markle, who now reportedly lives in a rehab centre in Florida, told the Daily Mail the allegations against him were “sick lies”.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2026