Thomas Wayne Markle, the estranged father of Meghan Markle, was arrested in Florida on Friday after federal investigators allegedly uncovered a collection of child sexual abuse material, including photographs depicting him with underage girls.
Markle, 82, faces one count of possession of child pornography stemming from an FBI investigation into suspected images stored in two Los Angeles-area storage units he had rented for nearly two decades.
According to a federal criminal complaint, investigators seized approximately 78 items from the units, including photographic slides, film negatives, and books containing suspected child sexual abuse material. Markle had maintained both storage rentals since 2008, with his most recent payments made through automatic withdrawals last month.
Thomas Wayne Markle, 82, of Lakeland, Florida, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint alleging he kept child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including sexually explicit photographs of himself with prepubescent girls, in two Los Angeles-area storage units he rented… https://t.co/XCdlWG881T
— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) November 6, 2026
Markle is expected to make his initial appearance Friday in federal court in Tampa, Florida. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
“Mr. Markle is accused of possessing child sexual abuse material, including photographs depicting himself with minor girls,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said. “These allegations are extremely serious, and we will prosecute Mr. Markle to the fullest extent of federal law.”
The FBI said its investigation involved law enforcement partners in several countries, including the Philippines, Mexico, and the Marshall Islands.
According to an affidavit accompanying the complaint, investigators began looking into Markle in October after receiving information from a person who said they discovered suspected child sexual abuse material among his belongings in the Philippines. Authorities subsequently interviewed another person who provided information about a storage unit Markle maintained in the Los Angeles area. Information from the initial witness ultimately led investigators to a second unit.
The arrest follows reports from the British tabloid the Sun that Markle’s son, Thomas Markle Jr., discovered a collection of suspected child sexual abuse images while clearing out his father’s former residence in the Philippines. Markle Jr. reportedly contacted Philippine authorities and the FBI after discovering the material.
The case has also renewed attention on the long-standing estrangement between Markle and his daughter, Meghan, the wife of Prince Harry.
Meghan recently said she was “deeply distressed” by the allegations surrounding her father. She also disclosed that a letter containing what she described as “troubling allegations” about him had been sent to London police in 2018.
“It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated,” Meghan said of the letter. “I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications’ distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children was for one reason: to protect them.”
Markle Jr. also told the Sun that he had supported and cared for his father for years but intended to cut off contact following the discovery.
“I have supported, cared for him and helped him for years — but that stops now,” he said. “I won’t speak to my father ever again unless I’m called to give evidence against him.”
