Met reviews handling of 2019 letter containing claims about Thomas Markle
publishers 13articles 14first reported 24 Oct, 03:17 UTCdeveloping since 24 Oct · 7 editions
London’s Metropolitan Police is reviewing how it handled a letter received in January 2019 containing claims of alleged offences outside the United Kingdom involving Thomas Markle, the father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
The force said the letter was reviewed at the time and passed to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their awareness. Details of the allegations were not shared with other law-enforcement agencies. The Met is now considering whether to refer its handling of the matter to the police watchdog.
Meghan said she was “deeply distressed” by accusations that her father possessed images of child abuse. She said she had previously blocked contact between him and her children because of other “troubling and disturbing” allegations and had received assurances that the latest claims were being investigated. However, a source close to the matter said police were not investigating.
Thomas Markle denied the allegations, calling them “sick lies” in comments to the Daily Mail. British newspapers reported that the images were allegedly found among his belongings at a former home in the Philippines.
A Cebu City police officer, speaking anonymously, said an investigation was continuing in the Philippines. The FBI said it was aware of the allegations and would support Philippine authorities as appropriate.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 3 articles, 1 with the publisher's own text; 2 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 6 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 13
- Source articles
- 14
- Given to the writer
- 3, 1 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 2
- This version written
- 6 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →