Prince Harry returns to UK amid Thomas Markle child abuse scandal

Prince Harry appeared in London last night for the first time since child abuse allegations against his father-in-law, Thomas Markle Sr., became public.

The Duke of Sussex delivered a keynote address at the Wanderlust Travel Media Awards, held at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich.

He spoke in his capacity as founder of Travalyst, the sustainable tourism nonprofit he launched in 2019.

Dressed in a suit with a red-and-blue striped tie, Harry told attendees: "I started Travalyst because I believe deeply in travel as a force for good."

The appearance came just days after reports emerged that Harry, Meghan Markle, and their two children — Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5 — had left the UK shortly before the allegations became public.

A source told Hello!

Magazine that the family of four traveled overseas for a brief vacation to spend time with close friends.

Meghan is said to be deeply affected by the developments.

"She's just really, really upset," a friend told Hello!.

"She keeps on looking at Lili, and she's in tears, and thinking about all the children, the alleged victims. She has young children herself. It's just devastating."

The friend added that Meghan had decided before the news broke to step away from media coverage for her own mental health.

"But obviously, she's been getting sent a lot of messages from friends in the UK and people all over saying how sorry they are, but it's just been an emotional rollercoaster for her. She's in bits."

The allegations against Thomas Markle Sr., 82, first surfaced last month when his son, Thomas Markle Jr., turned over a trove of alleged child sexual abuse images to police in the Philippines.

Markle Jr. had been living with his father in Cebu as his full-time carer.

He submitted several legal affidavits to Filipino authorities and said: "It's been a long process but I'm determined to cooperate fully in the hope that justice will be done."

Philippine Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced Thursday that Thomas Markle Jr. has been named a person of interest in the investigation.

"To accuse the father only is only half the police work," Remulla said, as reported by News5 Philippines.

He confirmed that a witness alleged underage girls had been brought to a residence linked to the investigation.

"There are signs that point that the son is involved in the crime as well but only as a person of interest so far," Remulla said.

Markle Jr. is not yet being treated as a suspect.

Remulla described the material found on devices belonging to Thomas Markle Sr. as deeply disturbing.

Around 7,500 sensitive materials of underage males and females were uncovered, he said.

"They presented it to me but I didn't want to look because I can't unsee it. It is the most deplorable displays of impunity towards sexual activity that I have ever seen. It's really, really disturbing," Remulla said.

The FBI is now involved in the case, helping Philippine authorities identify the registration of devices, as six phones had come from the United States.

US agents have also been alerted to two storage units in Los Angeles rented by Thomas Markle Sr., following a tip-off from his son.

Authorities in Mexico have launched a criminal investigation after child sex abuse images were found among Thomas Markle Sr.'s belongings there, which appeared to date from when he was in his 40s or 50s.

Thomas Markle Sr. has denied the allegations, calling his son's claims "sick lies."

"I'm shocked, I'm hurt and I'm very upset that my son is making these accusations against me," he told the Daily Mail.

"I could never do what I'm being accused of. It's the worst thing anyone could accuse me of."

Meghan Markle previously said she was "deeply disturbed" by the investigation into her estranged father.

She revealed that she had been aware of similar allegations years earlier, which influenced her decision to cut ties with her family.

A letter from the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection, sent to Meghan seven years ago, made "troubling and disturbing allegations" about her father.

Meghan was assured at the time that the allegations were being investigated.

The Metropolitan Police has admitted it never shared the details with other law enforcement agencies.

The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), is now investigating the force's conduct.

Sources said Meghan wanted to "speak out" immediately after reading the letter, but police advised her against it.

Meghan has been estranged from her father since the run-up to her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.

Thomas Markle Sr. was caught staging paparazzi photographs and then suffered a heart attack, meaning King Charles III — then the Prince of Wales — stepped in to walk Meghan down the aisle.

A spokesperson for the Duchess confirmed at the time that she had "reached out to her father."

Meanwhile, Thomas Markle Sr. received a visit from Meghan's half-sister, Samantha Markle, 61, at his care home in Florida on Wednesday.