.jpeg "Fleetwood Mac Announce Fleetwood Mac Documentary")
[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
The disturbing situation involving Meghan Markle‘s estranged father has taken another turn. And this latest development raises serious questions about how police handled allegations they received years ago.
On Saturday, London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed to People that they received a letter in January 2019 containing child abuse allegations about Thomas Markle Sr.
At the time, officers passed it along to the office of Meghan and Prince Harry — but they now say they did not share the claims with other law enforcement agencies.
Related: Harry Admits His & Meghan’s ‘Attitudes Have Changed’ — And Opens Up About Family Rift
A spokesperson for the Met explained to the mag on Saturday morning:
“Following a thorough review of Met Police systems and records, we have confirmed that in January 2019, we received a letter containing a number of claims about alleged offending outside the United Kingdom. It was sent to the MPS Protection Command to raise concerns in relation to the security of the Duchess of Sussex.”
The spokesperson continued:
“The letter was reviewed and a decision was made that it should be passed to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their awareness. The details of the allegations in the letter were not shared with other law enforcement agencies.”
That’s a significant detail, given the nature of the accusations. And police are now reexamining their handling of the letter.
The Met added:
“The MPS is reviewing the handling of this matter in 2019 and considering whether a referral to the IOPC is necessary to review our approach.”
As we previously reported, The Sun claimed the letter accused Thomas Sr. of sexually abusing a child and included further allegations involving children abroad. The outlet also reported that Meghan’s half-brother Thomas Markle Jr. had raised allegations about child sexual abuse material at his father’s home in the Philippines. Thomas Sr., 82, emphatically denied the accusations to the Daily Mail. And FYI, it should be noted that the claims in the letter have not yet been substantiated.
Related: Meghan & Harry’s ‘Too Awkward And Too Difficult’ Christmas Plans Revealed!
And yet, there’s another wrinkle: Meghan, 45, previously recalled the letter being sent to police in 2018. The Met says its records place its receipt in January 2019.
Addressing that discrepancy also on Saturday morning, her representative told People:
“In recalling events from more than seven years ago, without the benefit of a diary entry or contemporaneous record, it is understandable that she may have been mistaken by a few months.”
The representative continued:
“If the MPS holds a time-stamped record confirming that the letter was reviewed in 2019, that should be treated as the accurate reference point for when it was received and shared with the Duchess. It is reasonable to recognize that she is doing her best to recall the precise timing of events that were not diarized at the time, and that any discrepancy of a few months is an understandable consequence of that passage of time.”
Wow…
Of course, on Friday, the Duchess said the allegations had left her deeply distressed and explained that protecting her children was the reason she kept them apart from her father. She also said she’d been assured the claims were being investigated.
Now, the question is why the allegations weren’t shared with other law enforcement agencies — and whether the Met’s review will provide more answers.
Reactions, y’all? Share ’em (below)…
If you have sincere cause to suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence and would like to learn more about resources, consider checking out https://www.rainn.org/resources.
[Image via ITV/YouTube/MEGA/WENN]
