By Ahmed Abdelsalam
Thomas Markle, the 82-year-old father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has been arrested by U.S. federal agents in Florida on charges related to child sexual abuse material, according to law enforcement sources cited by the Associated Press and Reuters.
Arrest Near Tampa
Markle was taken into custody near Tampa earlier this week. Federal authorities have not released detailed charging documents, but wire reports indicate the arrest stems from an investigation into illicit images.
Duchess Responds to Allegations
Last month, the Duchess of Sussex said she was "deeply distressed" by allegations that a collection of child sexual abuse images was discovered at her father's former residence. She also revealed that a letter containing "troubling allegations" about her father had been sent to London police in 2018.
Family Estrangement
The arrest follows years of public estrangement. Markle, a retired television lighting and photography director, did not attend the 2018 wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The duchess has since stated she distanced herself from her father to protect her children.
Half-Brother's Claims
Earlier this year, Thomas Markle Jr., the duchess's half-brother, alleged he had found a stash of images belonging to their father at a former home in the Philippines. Markle Sr. was named a person of interest in the case earlier this week.
