The Metropolitan Police (Met) says it has referred itself to the police watchdog over how it handled a letter containing allegations involving Thomas Markle Sr, the father of the Duchess of Sussex. Outlets report the referral follows concerns the Met did not pass the information on to other law enforcement agencies, prompting scrutiny of the force’s actions.
Several reports describe the issue as stemming from a letter sent in 2019 and how the Met handled allegations before they were considered in relation to other agencies. BBC News and Sky News frame the story as a matter of oversight into the Met’s handling of the letter, while The Guardian and The Independent similarly highlight the referral to the official body responsible for policing standards.
Some outlets add context about related developments overseas. The Guardian notes that Philippines police are investigating suspected child sexual abuse images reported to have been found at Thomas Markle Sr’s former home. The London Evening Standard also adds that Thomas Markle Sr has admitted paying for sex in the Philippines but denies possessing child sex abuse images. Overall, coverage largely agrees on the core fact of the Met’s self-referral and the 2019 letter handling issue, with differences mainly in background details and emphasis.
