The Duchess of Sussex has been "really struggling" following shock allegations about her father Thomas Markle Sr. Those close to Meghan have said she is "in bits" as an investigation into her estranged dad continues.
Speaking on the latest episode of HELLO!'s A Right Royal Podcast, Royal Editor Emily Nash said: "It's a very, very difficult and painful moment for her. And from talking to people close to her, she's been in bits. She's really struggling.
"She's away with Harry and the children at the moment for half term. They're surrounded by some close friends. She has other friends checking in with her daily. Whatever your feelings about her, whether you're a fan or not a fan, and we know many people aren't, you cannot help but feel some sympathy for her being caught up in this situation which is way beyond her control and deeply, deeply troubling."
Emily continued: "That is something that people close to her have said to me this week: that on the one hand she's looking at her own children who are obviously very young, and feeling horrified on behalf of any other children allegedly caught up in this situation.
"But at the same time, there is a sense of relief because it's something that she and Harry have had to carry for a very long time, and people close to them as well. And so there is a degree of relief that people now know the full story."
Scroll down to watch the full podcast episode.
© Samir Hussein/WireImageThe Duchess shares two children with her husband Prince Harry: Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five. The family relocated from California to the UK in August, ahead of the children starting school. They have been spending time together over the October half-term break, believed to be at their holiday home in Portugal.
Since their return to Harry's home country, Meghan has made one official public appearance, joining her husband on a day of charity engagements in Nottingham, a city close to their hearts.
What has Meghan's father been accused of?
However, recent headlines about her 82-year-old father have been deeply troubling the Duchess. The Times have reported that Meghan wanted to go public about the allegations against her father when she first saw the letter, but she was advised by the police not to do so. She has been estranged from her father since 2018, the year of her wedding, and has always kept her children away from him.
Last week, Meghan released a statement saying she was made aware of "disturbing allegations" about her father in a letter sent to Scotland Yard eight years ago, making "troubling" allegations against Thomas Markle Sr, and she was assured that these were being investigated.
The Sun had reported that Thomas Markle's son, Thomas Jr, alleged he had discovered boxes of child sex images at their home in the Philippines, and went to the police. However, Meghan's half-sister, Samantha Markle, accused him of fabricating the claims in a story in the Daily Mail.
The Daily Mail has also reported that child sex abuse images have also been found at an abandoned storage unit belonging to Thomas Sr in Mexico, where he lived before the Philippines.
© Instagram / @meghanWhat has Meghan said about her father's scandal?
In a statement last week, Meghan said: "I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed.
"In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. That letter was subsequently shared with me. It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated.
"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. I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families.
"Although the breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine, my sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children."
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Thomas Sr denied possessing child sex images, calling the accusations "sick lies". The retired Hollywood lighting director is being cared for in a Florida nursing home.
On Thursday, the Metropolitan Police said it has voluntarily referred itself to the police watchdog after failing to pass on the correspondence to relevant overseas law enforcement agencies.
