Police in the Philippines have obtained a warrant to search electronic devices seized from the former home of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex's father, Thomas Markle Sr, amid allegations involving child sexual abuse material.
Markle, 82, had strongly denied the allegations made by his son, Thomas Markle Jr, describing them as "sick lies".
Earlier this month, reports emerged that hundreds of images of child sexual abuse had allegedly been discovered at Markle Sr's former home in Cebu, in the Philippines.
His son handed four boxes of material, including computers, mobile phones, hard drives and old videotapes to police last week, but investigators required a court warrant to examine the material.
Speaking to the BBC, Cebu Regional Prosecutor Graeme Elmido said Markle Jr was determined to have the allegations investigated and believed his father "has to answer for it".
Police said they would first need to establish how the material was obtained before considering criminal charges.
The investigation followed reports that Markle Sr's late former wife had raised "troubling allegations" in a letter to London police in 2018.
The claims in the letter were reportedly shared with Meghan and her husband Prince Harry at the time, but were not passed on to other law enforcement agencies.
In a statement on Friday, Meghan confirmed the existence of the letter and said she was "deeply distressed" about the allegations, adding her thoughts were with any children who may have been harmed.
The duchess had been estranged from her father since 2018 and said the allegations helped explain why she had kept her distance and prevented him from having contact with her children.
Meanwhile, Markle Jr apologised to his half-sister for previously defending their father, telling the Sun he had "been protecting the wrong person for the past nine years".
Markle Sr, who lived in the Philippines until May, was reportedly now recovering at a rehabilitation centre in Florida after having his leg amputated.
The 82-year-old reportedly told the Daily Mail last week: “I’m shocked, I’m hurt, and I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me,."
"I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of."
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds including a tornado on a Canterbury farm, and a dizzying new world record. (Source: 1News)
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