Met Police Admits Failure to Share 2019 Allegations Against Thomas Markle Sr. Amid Philippines Investigation
What happened
London’s Metropolitan Police Service acknowledged it received a January 2019 letter outlining allegations against Thomas Markle Sr. abroad, but forwarded the file solely to the Sussex household without notifying external law enforcement agencies.
The Context
* The original protocol: Addressed to the MPS Protection Command regarding security for the Duchess of Sussex, the 2019 letter detailed alleged illicit activity overseas but remained contained within internal royal protection circuits. * The overseas investigation: Authorities in the Philippines launched an inquiry following claims regarding illicit material at a former residence in Cebu, which Thomas Markle Sr. has publicly denied. * The accountability review: The Met confirmed an internal review into its protocol failures and is evaluating an official referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
The Number
— The operational lag between the Met’s initial receipt of the notification in January 2019 and its public review in October 2026, highlighting how institutional silos delay inter-agency coordination.
Takeaway
Expect increased scrutiny on international law enforcement protocols as independent oversight bodies determine whether cross-jurisdictional referral guidelines were breached.
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