Duchess of Sussex’s decision to cut ties with elderly father cast in new light as he faces sexual abuse image claims

• Meghan ‘deeply distressed’ by allegations against father

The depiction of the Duchess of Sussex by certain sections of the media has often been one of a fame-hungry daughter casting off an elderly father in his declining years and keeping him from his grandchildren as she embraces the international celebrity stage.

Their estrangement has been the subject of countless headlines since her marriage to Prince Harry. But her statement today, released after child sexual abuse image allegations made against Thomas Markle Sr, 82, suggests deeper, darker fears as the cause.

Meghan reveals she was made aware of ‘disturbing allegations’ against him in 2018 by Met police

The Duchess of Sussex has said she is “deeply distressed” over accusations involving child sexual abuse images against her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr, and revealed she was made aware of “disturbing allegations” against him in 2018 by the Metropolitan police.

Meghan issued a statement after the Sun newspaper published claims that her half-brother Thomas Markle Jr alleged he had found a stash of images belonging to their father at his former home in the Philippines.