Child abuse material, 'photos with minors': Meghan's father Thomas Markle arrested in Florida

The 82-year-old was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), according to a US Justice Department official. Thomas Markle, the father of Meghan Markle, wife of Britain's Prince Harry, was arrested by federal agents in Florida on Friday charges related to child sexual abuse material, according to people familiar with the matter, the Associated Press reported.Thomas Markle with daughter and now Duchess of Sussex Meghan MarkleThe 82-year-old was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), according to a US Justice Department official. Also Read | Meghan Markle speaks out amid child abuse allegations against father Thomas: ‘I am deeply distressed’What are the allegations against Thomas Markle Sr?The Daily Mail, which first reported the arrest, said Markle Sr was taken into custody at his senior living community in Lakeland, Florida, over allegations involving possession of child sexual abuse material.The publication, citing unnamed sources, also reported that such material had been discovered in a storage unit in Mexico and in the Philippines.Authorities in the Philippines, where Markle Sr previously lived, launched an investigation into the allegations last month.British police also said last month that they would refer allegations concerning Markle Sr to overseas law enforcement agencies after discovering that the claims had not been forwarded to other authorities when they were initially received.Markle Sr has denied the allegations, telling the Daily Mail that they were untrue and "sick lies."Meghan Markle, who married Prince Harry, the younger son of King Charles, in 2018, previously said she was "deeply distressed" by the allegations against her father.Images of child sexual abuse were also allegedly discovered at Markle's former residence in the Philippines and at a storage unit he had rented in Mexico, AFP reported.British tabloid The Sun reported last month that Markle's son, Thomas Markle Jr, found the images while going through boxes at his father's former home in the Philippines.Markle had been living in Cebu in the Philippines before reportedly returning to the United States earlier this year.Meghan Markle had said last month that she was "deeply distressed" by allegations that her father possessed images of child sexual abuse. She also said she had blocked contact between him and her children following previous "troubling and disturbing" allegations.Prince Harry, the younger son of King Charles III and estranged brother of heir to the throne Prince William, married Meghan, an American former actress, at Windsor Castle in May 2018.The couple stepped back from royal duties and left Britain in 2020. They made an unexpected return to the United Kingdom with their two children in August.Priyanjali Narayan is a journalist with Hindustan Times based in New Delhi. She has over two years of experience covering national and international affairs, reporting on breaking news, producing in-depth explainers, and writing feature stories. Her work explores the political, social, and cultural dimensions of major events, with a focus on providing clear, nuanced, and accessible journalism for a broad audience.Before joining Hindustan Times, she was part of the India Today newsroom, where she specialised in explanatory journalism. There, she wrote detailed analyses of major domestic and international issues and produced feature stories that included interviews with prominent public figures. The role strengthened her ability to combine speed with depth in a fast-paced news environment.She holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in History from the University of Delhi. Her academic training continues to shape her storytelling, grounding her work in historical context and research-driven insight.Outside the newsroom, she enjoys reading personal essays and fiction, and is often planning her next trip, always seeking stories that deepen her understanding of people and places.Read MorePrince HarryMeghan MarkleGet the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries along with latest US midterm elections update. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.