Read the poignant letters that reveal how Thomas Markle abandoned a distraught lover in the Philippines years before his child porn bust - and the alias he used to send her money

Thomas Markle Sr has admitted visiting the Philippines for sex tourism with women over 18 – but he also appears to have had a relationship there with a woman he left distraught and feeling abandoned, the Daily Mail can reveal.The Duchess of Sussex’s estranged father is believed to have formed the close bond with the Filipina during his time in Manila in the late 1980s, after he split from second wife, Doria Ragland.Markle used a thinly veiled version of his own name during his travels in that period, including sending money to a family member of his lover using that assumed name, suggesting he had something to hide.In typed letters seen by the Daily Mail, the woman pours her heart out to Markle after he returned to Los Angeles, begging him to pick up the phone so she can hear his voice.'Before I start my short letter, I like to say hello to you. I hope that you are in good condition. As for myself, I am always worried and crying because I think you don't love me anymore,' one begins.In a further sign of her desperation, it continues: 'You know Tom, when you were here in Manila last year, I became fat but beginning in December you said you will be coming back.'But you fail to come back and my life becomes so boring. I lost my hope of seeing you in person and I am always crying and cannot eat much. I can't sleep well and I am always thinking of you.’Meghan’s 82-year-old father, currently in federal custody in Florida after being charged with possessing child sex abuse material found at his rented storage units in Los Angeles, appears to have ignored the woman’s attempts to speak with him decades ago. Thomas Markle Sr, who was arrested last week in Florida for alleged possession of child porn, appears to have had a relationship with a woman during his time in Manila in the late 1980s, the Daily Mail can reveal In typed letters seen by the Daily Mail, the Filipina poured her heart out to Markle, begging him to pick up the phone so she can hear his voice'I have tried to call you up in the phone but nobody answered.’ she writes. 'Presently I am very sick but I want to hear you and your voice will make me very happy.'Really I was very sad upon your sudden decision to leave the Philippines because you were bored.'The letter is not dated but the Daily Mail has been told Markle was in the Philippines in 1988 – a year after his divorce from 45-year-old Meghan’s mother, Ragland.'Tom, God knows that I still love you very much. I hope that you will answer this letter and I am waiting for your call especially on my birthday. I know that you have still with you my telephone numbers,' the missive concludes.'This is all for now. Always remember that I love you, Tom.’The Daily Mail has decided not to name the woman, who thanks Markle in another undated letter, written around Valentine’s Day, for sending her money – but also rebukes him again for apparently ghosting her.'Hello, how are you? I hope your [sic] in the good health as you receive this letter of mine,’ she starts. 'Bother to ask, I'm fine but still longing for your return. How come I keep on writing and receive no letter from you?'Tom, many thanks to the amount you sent last December before Christmas and have you receive my Christmas greeting cards?’ In one letter written around Valentine’s Day, the woman thanked Markle for sending her money, but also rebuked him again for apparently ghosting herMarkle's arrest came after the Daily Mail uncovered a trove of items from his abandoned Mexico storage unit - including this undated image of him on a bed and with his arm wrapped around a young Asian female, both fully clothed. The same female appears, alone and naked, in several other pictures in the unit The Daily Mail alerted the FBI to a stash of child porn inside the storage unit Markle rented until June 2024 near his former home in Rosarito, Mexico (above). A week later, he was arrested after the feds seized approximately 78 items, containing suspected child sexual abuse images, from two spaces Markle had rented in Los AngelesShe then pleads: ‘Every time I feel lonely, I always call you but unfortunately I can't contact you. It is hard to contact you by phone. If you still have time, try to write me or just even call me. I would like to hear from you.’The woman wishes Markle a happy Valentine’s Day and immediately hammers home her reunion message by writing: 'When are you coming back here?’She lists two phone numbers and says optimistically: ‘You can call me as soon as you receive this letter.’ The Duchess of Sussex's 82-year-old father was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on Tuesday after a court heard he allegedly cut off his GPS ankle tag while on house arrestIronically, the woman also suggests the two of them take a vacation to Cebu, where Markle lived between January 2025 and May 2026. It is also where he is being investigated over allegations that he stored child sex abuse material there, which he has denied and slammed as 'sick lies'.Markle was renting a high-rise apartment in the city of Cebu, although his erstwhile ‘lover’ may have been referring to the island where it is situated, which is also called Cebu.'Weather here is fine, getting warm and cold at night,’ she continues. 'If you can come here this vacation, we can spend the vacation together at Cebu. It’s a nice and cozy place. Many tourist have come there.’Signing off, she wrote: 'Take care of yourself because I care for you.' And in Tagalog, a regional language spoken in Manila, she tells him ‘Mahal kita’, which translates as ‘I love you.’ She also writes ‘loving and missing you.’The Daily Mail has also seen evidence that Markle sent money to a family member of the woman, but altered his name to Mark Thomas in the transaction paperwork.He also switched his name around on other paperwork related to the Philippines during that period. In the wake of her father's arrest, the Duchess of Sussex - who has been estranged from him for years - said she was 'deeply distressed' by the allegations Around 20 boxes were found in Markle's rented storage unit near Rosarito - including some containing books about pedophilia and magazines showing children being sexually abused A paper plate - with the words 'DARK WEB' scribbled in red ink alongside various URLs - was seen inside the Rosarito storage spaceThe letters can be revealed as the former feted Hollywood lighting director remains incarcerated in Pinellas County Jail in Clearwater, Florida, after he allegedly cut off his GPS ankle tag while on house arrest.Wheelchair-bound Markle was dramatically seized by the FBI last Friday at Maravida Senior Living in Lakeland, where he was recovering after having a leg amputated 11 months ago. An assisted living home, it also offers memory care for patients who have dementia; according to The Sun, Markle reportedly has cognitive issues. A judge in nearby Tampa agreed he could be in home detention at the facility, but staff refused to take him back. He was subsequently released into the custody of his daughter Samantha, 61, who lives in a nearby trailer with her partner Mark Phillips, 68.However, after allegedly tampering with his ankle monitor, Markle was dragged back to court Tuesday and Judge Lindsay Griffin branded his living arrangements ‘untenable.’The now prisoner #05907-513 was charged on Friday after the FBI raided two storage units he still maintained in Los Angeles and discovered alleged child sex abuse images. These included 'sexually explicit photographs of himself with prepubescent girls,’ according to the Justice Department affidavit. Cutting a desperate figure, Markle scowled and stared as agents loaded him into a waiting ambulance in the wake of his arrest last weekMarkle admitted to the Mail on Sunday that he visited the Philippines at least twice while single and ‘slept with prostitutes’, adding: ‘I like Asian women but that is not a crime.’ His arrest also followed the Daily Mail discovering a stash of child pornography in a storage unit he rented in Rosarito, Mexico, where he lived for 14 years from 2011.In the space were magazines showing children being sexually abused, more than 30 black-and-white prints of naked Asian females – some who appear to be conspicuously young – as well as books sexualizing children.Additionally, there were strips of 35mm negatives depicting voyeuristic images of young children on a beach and dusty VHS tapes with titles including ‘Boys - Brother and Sister - Russian XX’ and ‘Manila Nites.'Mexican police raided the storage unit, located 10 miles south of the US border, a day after the Daily Mail alerted the FBI to its contents. Markle began renting it in 2017 but stopped paying in June 2024.Guardia Nacional officers, who identified themselves as state sex crimes investigators, launched a midnight swoop on the 5ft by 10ft vault, which was three miles from Markle’s former rented ocean-front home.A copy of the search warrant obtained by the Daily Mail revealed investigators were authorized by a judge to look for ‘evidence consisting of child sexual abuse material’ and ‘the alleged commission of the crime of human trafficking in its aggravated form.’Markle, for his part, has claimed to the Daily Mail: ‘I had no storage units in Rosarito!'