Tampa: The estranged father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has been arrested in Florida on a federal charge of possessing child sexual abuse material allegedly stored in two storage units in California, US authorities said.
Thomas Markle Sr, 82, was arrested on Friday at a senior care facility. He was later transported by ambulance to federal court in Tampa, where he appeared before a magistrate judge.
Markle's arrest followed the seizure of "approximately 78 items, including slides, film negatives, and books" containing suspected child sexual abuse images from storage units in the Los Angeles area, First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said.
Some images appear to depict Markle with children, according to an FBI affidavit filed in court.
"These allegations are extremely serious, and we will prosecute Mr Markle to the fullest extent of federal law," Essayli said.
Messages seeking comment from Markle's court-appointed attorney were not immediately returned.
After his appearance in federal court, Markle was released to a senior care centre under the condition that he be electronically monitored. US Magistrate Judge Lindsay Griffin also ordered a psychiatric examination, saying Markle might be unable to understand the proceedings or properly assist his lawyer.
The case is expected to move to California for further hearings, although they are unlikely to take place for several weeks, the US Attorney's Office in Los Angeles said.
Markle's arrest followed reports by British tabloid The Sun that his son, Thomas Markle Jr, had discovered a collection of child sexual abuse images while clearing out their father's home in the Philippines.
The discovery reportedly led investigators to two storage units in the Los Angeles area that Markle had rented since 2008.
Essayli told The Associated Press that there was no evidence of victims in the United States based on the material seized so far, but said the investigation was continuing.
Markle had been living in the Philippines earlier this year when he suffered a stroke and had his left leg amputated. He subsequently returned to the United States.
The Sun reported that Thomas Markle Jr found "hundreds, if not thousands" of images in boxes at his father's home in Cebu City. Markle Jr told the newspaper that he had reported the material to police in the Philippines and contacted the FBI.
"I have supported, cared for him and helped him for years — but that stops now," Markle Jr said. "I won't speak to my father ever again unless I'm called to give evidence against him."
Meghan, an American actor who starred in the television drama 'Suits', married Prince Harry at Windsor Castle in 2018. The couple have two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
She recently said she was "deeply distressed" by allegations that child sexual abuse images had been found at her father's former home. She also disclosed that a letter containing "troubling allegations" about him had been sent to police in London in 2019.
"It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated," Meghan said.
"I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications' distortion over the years, 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."
There was no immediate comment from Meghan's representative on Friday. Buckingham Palace was also not expected to comment on the arrest.
Prince Harry is the younger son of King Charles III. He and Meghan are no longer working members of the royal family and do not carry out public engagements on behalf of the monarch. The couple stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to California. Their status remained unchanged after they returned to the UK in August, Charles said at the time.
Thomas Markle Sr, a retired television lighting and photography director, did not attend Meghan and Harry's wedding after a controversy involving staged photographs published by a British tabloid. He has remained estranged from his daughter since then.
The allegations against Markle remain subject to the legal process.