Meghan's niece says child sex image allegations against Thomas Markle are 'not a surprise' because something was always 'off'

Noelle Rasmussen, Meghan Markle's niece and daughter of half-sister Samantha Markle, said she always felt "something off" about her grandfather Thomas Markle Sr, 82, who is now under investigation by Philippine police over allegations he possessed hundreds of child sexual abuse images. Rasmussen stressed she was never victimised herself but said she "100% backs" Meghan's decision to keep her children Archie and Lilibet away from him. She also described a 2019 letter written by her grandmother Roslyn Loveless — warning police about Thomas Sr — being lost by the Metropolitan Police as "a failure of the system" and "embarrassing."

Rasmussen said she "wouldn't want my kids around somebody being accused of child molestation" and praised her uncle Thomas Jr for whistleblowing.

Thomas Markle Sr denies all wrongdoing, admitting to having purchased sex in the Philippines but insisting that all his partners were adult prostitutes.

Meghan revealed in a statement that she was alerted to "troubling allegations" about her father in 2018 after the Metropolitan Police passed on a letter containing the claims.