Met Police reportedly misplaced letter containing allegations about Thomas Markle

Officers ultimately requested that the Duchess of Sussex provide the version she had retained, according to a report in The Times.

GB News has contacted both the Met Police and the Duchess of Sussex for comment.

Scotland Yard stated last weekend that following “a thorough review of Met Police systems and records,” it had confirmed the letter’s receipt in January 2019 and acknowledged that a decision was taken at the time simply to pass it to the Sussexes’ office rather than alerting relevant agencies domestically or internationally.

The Duchess is thought to be “upset and really frustrated” by the Met’s handling of the matter, GB News understands.

The force has also acknowledged that its approach in 2019 requires scrutiny. In its statement, Scotland Yard said: “The MPS is reviewing the handling of this matter in 2019 and considering whether a referral to the IOPC is necessary to review our approach.”

The fact that Meghan had apparently preserved her copy of the letter is said to have proved essential, as it was the only means by which police could recover the document’s contents after mislaying their own version, it is understood.

The fact that such allegations were filed away without alerting authorities overseas, and the claim that the force could not immediately locate the correspondence seven years later, raises questions about how the Met’s Protection Command handled the situation.

Dai Davies, the former Chief Superintendent who previously oversaw royal security for the Met Police, told GB News: “I would obviously have had a meeting with my senior team, and my position would be to get in touch with the authorities, either the FBI or in the States where this was alleged to have happened, to check out the validity of the person writing it, and as we now know, that is reported to be Thomas Markle’s ex-wife.

“That’s the first thing you always do when you get a letter like this: see what evidence you can confirm before you take action, unless it’s so immediate.”

Philippine authorities have confirmed that an investigation into allegations of child sex abuse material found at Thomas Markle’s former residence in the country is now underway.

Nicholas Ty, undersecretary at the Philippines Department of Justice, confirmed the probe at the weekend.

The allegations were first reported by Thomas Markle Jr., Meghan’s half-brother, who told the Sun he found the images while at the property earlier this year.

He is understood to have alerted the FBI Hotline, Pennsylvania state police and the US-based National Centre for Exploited and Missing Children in July.

Thomas Markle Sr. has categorically denied possessing child sexual abuse images, telling the Daily Mail the accusations were “sick lies”.

Mr Markle Sr., who was obliged to return to the United States after suffering a stroke and blood clot that resulted in the amputation of his left leg, is currently residing in a rehabilitation facility in Florida.

In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Mr Markle Sr told the paper that when he was single he travelled to the Philippines at least twice and “slept with prostitutes” but insisted he has “never had sex with anyone under the age of 18”.