The Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the police watchdog over its handling of a letter received in 2019 containing allegations about Thomas Markle Sr, the father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. The force says it passed the letter to the royal couple’s office but did not alert other law enforcement agencies.
The voluntary referral, announced on Thursday 29 October 2026, concerns two police decisions: not sharing the allegations with other authorities and passing the letter to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The separate allegations involving Mr Markle Sr remain under investigation overseas. He denies wrongdoing.
What the Metropolitan Police has confirmed
In a statement issued on 29 October, Commander Adam Slonecki, head of the Met’s Protection Command, said the force received a letter in January 2019 addressed to its Fixated Threats Assessment Centre.
Although the sender described concerns about the Duchess of Sussex’s security, police say the letter did not contain information specifically related to security. Instead, it made claims about alleged offences outside the UK.
The letter was assessed and forwarded to Harry and Meghan’s office for their awareness. The Met confirmed that the allegations were not shared with other law enforcement agencies at the time.
Following an initial review by its Directorate of Professional Standards, the force voluntarily referred its handling of the letter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). It also said it was beginning referrals to relevant overseas law enforcement agencies, with that process expected to be completed in the coming days.
What the watchdog has said
The IOPC told The Guardian it had received the voluntary conduct referral and was assessing what further action, if any, would be required.
A referral does not mean the IOPC has already opened an independent investigation or reached a finding of misconduct. Under its published procedure, the watchdog may investigate itself, oversee an investigation or refer a matter back to the police force for appropriate handling.
What is being investigated in the Philippines
Philippine authorities are separately examining allegations that child sexual abuse material was found among belongings reportedly left at Mr Markle Sr’s former home in Cebu. The Philippine News Agency reported on 23 October that the Department of Justice’s specialist task force was investigating after claims made by his son, Thomas Markle Jr.
On 29 October, Sky News reported that Philippine police had obtained court authority to examine electronic devices in connection with the investigation. The existence, provenance and ownership of any alleged material are matters for investigators to establish.
Mr Markle Sr has strongly denied the allegations, including claims that he possessed child sexual abuse material. No criminal charges against him were confirmed in the reporting reviewed for this article.
The 2019 letter and the Philippine investigation should not be treated as proof of the allegations. Nor does the police watchdog referral itself establish that any officer committed misconduct.
What we know
- The Met confirms receiving the letter in January 2019 and passing it to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s office.
- The Met confirms it did not alert other law enforcement agencies to the allegations at the time.
- The force made a voluntary referral to the IOPC on 29 October following an internal review.
- Philippine authorities are separately investigating claims involving material allegedly found at a former home of Thomas Markle Sr.
- Mr Markle Sr denies the allegations.
What we do not know
- Why the Met decided not to contact overseas police in 2019 or who authorised that decision.
- Whether the IOPC will open an independent investigation, ask the Met to investigate or take another course.
- Whether the overseas referrals have been received and acted upon by the relevant agencies.
- What the forensic examination of the electronic devices will establish or whether any charges will follow.
Why this matters
The central accountability issue is how British police handled information alleging possible offending outside their jurisdiction, even though the letter was presented as a royal security concern. The Met’s own admission establishes that the claims were not forwarded to other law enforcement agencies at the time.
The IOPC’s assessment may clarify whether that decision, and the decision to pass the letter to the royal household, met the standards expected of the force. It is too early to draw conclusions about misconduct or the separate criminal allegations.
