Meghan Markle was allegedly discouraged from exposing serious accusations against her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., after a royal protection officer assured her that police would investigate the claims.
The Duchess of Sussex reportedly considered speaking publicly in 2019 after learning that her father’s former wife, Roslyn Loveless, had contacted Scotland Yard with allegations involving sexual offenses against children.
“Leave it with us, we’ll investigate it,” an officer allegedly told Meghan, according to The Sunday Times.
But British police never passed the accusations to authorities overseas, where the alleged offenses reportedly occurred.
Now, the Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an investigation into how the Metropolitan Police handled the warning.
Investigators are also reportedly working to identify the officer who spoke with Meghan.
The Duchess addressed the allegations in October, explaining why her father has never met her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
“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,” she said.
Meanwhile, Thomas Sr. faces a separate investigation in the Philippines after suspected child sexual abuse material was reportedly discovered among belongings at his former home.
The 82-year-old has denied wrongdoing, dismissing the accusations as “sick lies.”
No criminal charges have been announced, and investigators are still looking into the allegations.