Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s behavior to her father questioned amid claim they knew of ‘disturbing allegations’ in 2018

Meghan Markle says she heard “disturbing allegations” against her father, now accused of possessing child porn, in 2018 — which has brought her behavior toward him since under the microscope.

The Duchess of Sussex released a lengthy statement Friday, stating she became aware of “troubling and disturbing” allegations against Thomas Markle after a letter was sent to the UK’s London Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Speciality Protection squad, which was subsequently shared with her.

One highly-placed source confirmed to Page Six that they “knew there was an issue” with Thomas in 2018. Others questioned why Megan and Harry seemingly didn’t alert authorities in the US and Mexico, where Thomas, now 82, was then-living.

It was, however, made firmly clear to Page Six Friday that Markle’s hands had been tied, as she didn’t have firm proof of the allegations and to make public allegations could have jeopardized an investigation or opened her up to litigation.

Another Sussex source questioned why Markle had long blasted the media for a rift with her father if she knew about these allegations, saying, “One of her biggest gripes is the media and ‘false reports.’”

“She could have said eight years ago that some troubling accusations have come to light, I will help whatever way I can,” a source added.

As late as 2021, Markle told Oprah Winfrey in a bombshell royal-bashing interview: “I grieve a lot… I mean, I’ve lost my father.” Husband Prince Harry then went on to add he “shouldered” the blame for the situation adding, “If Meg wasn’t with me, then her dad would still be her dad.”

In her statement, Markle said the knowledge of allegations, which we are told she received after her marriage to Prince Harry on May 19, 2018, was the real reason she had kept her distance from her father.

“I hope it can now be understood that … 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,” she added.

But if she was aware of disturbing allegations, why did Markle send a saccharine handwritten note to Thomas in August 2018, begging him to stop talking to reporters, saying he had broken her heart “into a million pieces” with his media interviews, one well-placed insider questioned.

She ended the five-page letter by writing, “I ask for nothing other than peace. And I wish the same for you.”

To this claim, we’re told Markle has long wanted to ensure Thomas would stop speaking out, particularly about his anguish about not meeting his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Following initial confusion and conflicting claims over whether he received her messages, Markle’s spokesperson told us she had successfully delivered a private letter to Thomas via “trusted contacts.” He contents of that letter have never been made public.

Markle famously fell out with her dad just days before her lavish wedding at St George’s Chapel in Windsor — attended by celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and George Clooney — after it was revealed he had staged paparazzi shots of himself getting ready for the nuptials in Mexico.

At the 11th hour, Thomas pulled out of walking his daughter down the aisle, citing medical issues with his heart, leaving King Charles to walk Markle into church.

Markle, who recently moved back to the UK with Harry and their children, spoke out after The Sun broke the news her half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., had raised the alarm on his father after finding the sick trove of images at his father’s Philippines home.

A source said the Duchess “will do whatever she can to assist with the investigation in the pursuit of justice for the victims.”

Insiders also warned Page Six to expect much more evidence to come in the next few days.

Thomas has denied all the allegations on Friday, calling them “sick lies” and “a bunch of lies,” in a statement to the Daily Mail newspaper.