Thomas Markle, the father of the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has been arrested by the FBI in Florida, United States, on charges of possessing materials documenting child sexual abuse.
The 82-year-old was arrested on Friday, November 6, in the Lakeland area, near Tampa. According to US authorities, he has been charged with federal possession of illegal materials.
The arrest follows weeks of investigations, which began after his son, Thomas Markle Jr., claimed to have discovered suspicious materials at his father's apartment in the Philippines. He notified local authorities and the FBI, requesting an investigation into the contents.
According to US media, investigators have also discovered suspicious materials in storage facilities linked to the 82-year-old. Meanwhile, authorities in the Philippines have conducted a parallel investigation into the origin and content of the materials.
Thomas Markle has previously denied the allegations, calling them false and stating that he did not commit the acts of which he is suspected.
The case has prompted a reaction from Meghan Markle, who has said she is deeply troubled by the allegations against her father. The Duchess also revealed that she was made aware of the disturbing information in 2018, which was also passed on to British police.
Meghan, who has not had a relationship with her father for years, has emphasized that the decision to keep him away from her children was related to concerns for their safety.
Thomas Markle, a former lighting director in the American television industry, did not attend his daughter's wedding to Prince Harry in 2018.
Following his arrest, the case will be prosecuted by US federal courts. Thomas Markle is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
