Thomas Markle, Meghan Markle’s father, will undergo a psychiatric evaluation in Florida

Thomas Markle, Meghan Markle’s 82-year-old father, was placed under house arrest and ordered to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet after appearing before a court in Tampa, Florida, on Friday. Investigators accuse him of possessing child pornography images, and photographs showing naked preteen girls were allegedly found in his possession.

Judge Lindsay Griffin ordered a psychiatric evaluation because she did not rule out the possibility that the defendant suffers from a condition affecting his ability to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings. The decision was based on Markle’s advanced age and memory problems. The evaluation must be completed by November 20.

Markle was arrested by the FBI at the Florida care home where he lived, following searches carried out at two storage units he had rented for approximately 20 years in the Los Angeles area. Agents seized nearly 78 items, including slides, negatives, and books containing images believed to document sexual abuse of children.

A few days earlier, authorities in the Philippines had announced the discovery of similar images in a former residence of Markle’s. He had lived temporarily in the country in 2025. The case also affected the Sussexes’ visit to the European Parliament, where they were promoting the protection of children online.