Met Police Review How 2019 Letter on Prince Harry's Father Was Handled

The Metropolitan Police has launched a review of its 2019 protocols after confirming it passed a letter regarding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's father to their office. The force stated on Friday that it received the document in January 2019 and decided to share it only with the royal couple's representatives. This decision excluded other law enforcement agencies from the initial distribution.

The move comes after new reports emerged suggesting that Thomas Markle Sr possessed images of child sexual abuse. The Sun newspaper cited Markle's son, Thomas Markle Jr, who claimed to have found hundreds or thousands of such images on digital devices in the Philippines. The 60 year old said the items were stored in four boxes at a home in Cebu. Markle Sr lived in that location until returning to the United States in May following a stroke.

A spokesperson for the Met said the force conducted a thorough check of its systems. The letter was originally sent to the Protection Command to raise security concerns. The statement noted that the document was reviewed and a specific decision was made to pass it to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their awareness. The force is now considering whether to refer the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Markle Sr has denied the claims. He told the Daily Mail that the accusations were sick lies. Meanwhile, Meghan Markle said through a spokesperson that she was deeply distressed by the news. She stated that her thoughts were with any children who may have been harmed. She confirmed that a letter with troubling allegations had been shared with her and that she was assured an investigation was underway.

The duchess said she kept her father from her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to protect them. The pair are seven and five years old, respectively. Harry and Meghan recently moved back to the United Kingdom from the United States. The couple has been estranged from Markle Sr, who has never met his grandchildren.

There was a minor discrepancy regarding the timing of the letter. Meghan initially said it was sent in 2018 but later corrected this to 2019. A spokesperson explained that it was understandable she might be mistaken by a few months when recalling events from more than seven years ago without a diary entry. The spokesperson added that if the Met holds a time-stamped record showing a 2019 review, that should be treated as the accurate reference point.

Sources indicated that Meghan could not speak publicly about the allegations in 2019. This was to avoid jeopardizing any future investigation. They also noted that speaking out could have led to legal action against her. The current review aims to clarify how the information was managed during that period.

The situation highlights the operational choices made by the Met regarding sensitive security information. By limiting the sharing of the letter, the force prioritized the awareness of the royal office over a broader law enforcement distribution. The ongoing review will determine if this approach met the standard of care expected from the service.