Meghan Markle’s niece, Noelle Rasmussen, has said allegations involving suspected child abuse images linked to her grandfather, Thomas Markle Sr., did not surprise her, although she stressed that she had never been abused by him.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Rasmussen described feeling uneasy around her grandfather in the past. She said she could not fully explain the feeling but suggested that she had sensed something was wrong.
“Maybe it was a vibe that I subconsciously got … something’s not right about a person, and you don’t actively register it. But your body tells you when something’s off,” she said.
Rasmussen added that the allegations had not come as a shock to her, even as she acknowledged that she could not explain exactly why. She also made clear that she had never been victimised by her grandfather and did not claim that he had abused her.
Her comments come amid reports that Philippine authorities are investigating suspected child abuse images allegedly found at Thomas Markle Sr.’s property. The allegations have attracted renewed attention to the strained relationship between Meghan and her father, who has been largely estranged from the Duchess of Sussex for years.
Thomas Markle Sr. has denied allegations involving children. His daughter, Samantha Markle, has also defended him and criticised her brother, Thomas Markle Jr., who reportedly brought the matter to the attention of authorities in the Philippines.
The case has also drawn attention to earlier correspondence involving the Metropolitan Police in London. The force previously confirmed receiving a letter in January 2019 containing claims about alleged offending outside the United Kingdom. According to the police, the letter was reviewed and passed to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their awareness.
The Metropolitan Police’s confirmation concerned its receipt and handling of the letter. It did not establish the truth of the allegations contained in it.
Meghan reportedly wrote to her father separately to explain that she was aware of the claims and intended to end contact with him. Reports have linked the breakdown in their relationship to concerns surrounding the allegations and the decision to keep him away from her children.
In a separate response reported by TMZ, Thomas Markle Sr. acknowledged paying adult workers while continuing to deny allegations involving children. The reported admission does not, in itself, establish wrongdoing in relation to the allegations under investigation.
Reports from the Philippines indicated that investigators were examining suspected child abuse images allegedly discovered at his property, with a forensic examination expected to be completed within days of the report.
The investigation’s findings and any subsequent legal proceedings will be central to determining whether the allegations can be substantiated. For now, Rasmussen’s remarks reflect her personal recollections and impressions, while the allegations against her grandfather remain distinct from any established finding of criminal wrongdoing.
