Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, alleged to The Sun that he had found child abuse images at his father’s home in the Philippines and reported to the police.
The Undersecretary for the Philippines Department of Justice, Nicholas Ty, told the BBC that “the matter is currently being investigated” by an anti-human trafficking and child sexual exploitation task force in Cebu.
Philippines Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla separately told the BBC that national police had secured Thomas Markle Snr’s computer to conduct a comprehensive digital forensic examination.
Investigators are currently analysing the data to determine the full scope and extent of his alleged criminal activities, with the minister saying it would take one week to get the forensic results.
It is understood the Metropolitan Police has not and is not currently investigating Meghan’s father. It is also understood officers are carrying out an internal inquiry to confirm the Met’s royal protection unit passed on the letter to the Duchess.
The FBI said it was “aware of the allegations and will provide support, as appropriate, to the Philippine authorities. We will also investigate any related allegations of federal violations of US law.”
The BBC has contacted Thomas Markle Snr and the Metropolitan Police for comment.
The allegations about Meghan’s estranged father cast a new light on their complicated family relationships.
The statement from the Duchess of Sussex says the sharing of information about her father happened in 2018 – the year in which she married Prince Harry.
It is understood that Meghan first learnt about the allegations against her father after the wedding.
Sources close to the Sussexes said Meghan could not speak publicly about the allegations when she first learned of them, in order to avoid jeopardising any future investigation.
Speaking out could have resulted in legal action against her, the sources said.
The claims add a fresh dimension to the questions about why Prince Harry and their children did not ever seem to have met Meghan’s father – and why relations seemed to be so strained.
