Thomas Markle Sr. allegations overshadow Prince William's TV appearance
Allegations that Meghan's father Thomas Markle Sr. held child abuse images, which he denies, have taken attention from Prince William's TV appearance. Two right-leaning UK opinion pieces discuss how the Sussexes handled the matter.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Right · 1Allegations against Thomas Markle Sr., the father of the Duchess of Sussex, have dominated UK royal coverage, overshadowing Prince William's Friday-night appearance on the Graham Norton show, according to the Daily Mail's Sarah Vine. Daily MailR “Now nobody is talking about Prince Charming and everybody is agog at another Sussex mega-drama.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 2The allegations come from Markle's son, Thomas Markle Jr., Meghan's half-brother. He claimed he found disturbing images involving young girls on his father's home computer at their home in Cebu in the Philippines. Daily MailR “who claimed he had found disturbing images involving young girls on his father’s home computer at their home in Cebu in the Philippines” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Daily ExpressR “The Sun reported that his son, Thomas Jr., allegedly found the content in his dad's house in the Philippines and reported it.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Right · 2Markle Sr. denies the allegations. He told the Daily Mail they were "sick lies". His daughter Samantha says her brother is motivated by "media money" and suggests the material could have been planted, because the computers were in storage for two years. No charges have been brought against Markle Sr. Daily ExpressR “Meghan's father has denied the accusations and told the Daily Mail that they were "sick lies".” Read at Daily Express ↗ Daily MailR “Even though no charges have yet been brought against Thomas Sr” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Right · 1Meghan issued a statement saying that around the time of her wedding a letter containing "troubling and disturbing allegations" was sent to the Metropolitan Police and its royal protection unit, then passed to the Sussexes. The Met has confirmed this. She said any distance from her father was to protect her children. Daily MailR “a letter containing ‘troubling and disturbing allegations’ was sent to the Metropolitan Police and its royal protection unit, and subsequently passed on to the duke and duchess – which the Met has since confirmed.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 2The Daily Express describes the letter as being from Markle's ex-wife, Roslyn, and sent to police in 2019. It reports that the Sussexes cut ties with Markle after it was shared with them. Vine says it is not clear who sent the letter. Daily ExpressR “after a letter from his ex-wife, Roslyn, was sent to the police in 2019” Read at Daily Express ↗ Daily MailR “It’s not clear who sent that letter to the police – perhaps it was anonymous, these things often are” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 1Vine, writing in the Mail, says she sympathises with Meghan, citing her own recent experience of a similar accusation against an acquaintance. She notes that some observers question whether Meghan's account fits with her calling herself "a Daddy's Girl" in the 2022 Netflix documentary, but says she gives Meghan the benefit of the doubt. Daily MailR “Some observers have pointed out that since she subsequently referred to herself as ‘a Daddy’s Girl’”“one is inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt given the awfulness of the situation” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Right · 1Charlotte Griffiths, a journalist who says she was a friend of Prince Harry, told TalkTV that the Sussexes "let the world believe" the Royal Family and the press were responsible for Meghan's distress in 2019. She said the timeline of Meghan's low point in January 2019 now makes more sense, and that Harry and Meghan "shouldered a lot of the blame" that belonged with Thomas Markle. Daily ExpressR “Meghan and Harry had 'let the world believe' that the Royal Family were solely responsible for her anguish in 2019.”“it sounds like most of the blame, if not all of it, is with Thomas Markle.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Right · 1Griffiths also said people may show Meghan more leniency, but that she had "slightly blotted her copybook" by letting people think the Royal Family was solely to blame. Daily ExpressR “I do think people will start to show her a bit more leniency, but the only thing is, she's slightly blotted her copybook” Read at Daily Express ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both pieces are opinion commentary on the Sussexes' handling of the Markle allegations. The Mail's Vine offers qualified sympathy for Meghan and contrasts William's TV appearance with the Sussex 'drama'. The Express relays Griffiths' view that the Sussexes misled the public about the cause of Meghan's 2019 distress.
- Emphasis
- The effect on William's media moment, the personal trauma of the allegations, Meghan's earlier public account of her father, and whether the Royal Family was unfairly blamed.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither piece gives independent verification of the allegations; both rely on Markle Jr.'s claim and the denials. The two differ on who sent the police letter and when, and neither resolves this. No left or centre outlet is in the coverage for comparison.
- Charged language
- “bombshell news”“Sussex mega-drama”“blotted her copybook”
- For example
-
“the Sussexes drove a horse and cart through it all with the bombshell news about the duchess’s father” — Daily Mail
“they let the world believe that it was because of her maltreatment in the royal family” — Daily Express
What every side reports
- Thomas Markle Jr. alleges he found child abuse images at his father's home in the Philippines.
- Thomas Markle Sr. denies the allegations.
- A letter containing allegations about Markle Sr. was sent to the Metropolitan Police and passed to the Sussexes.
Where accounts differ
-
When and by whom the police letter was sent
- Right
- The Mail says it was sent around the time of Meghan's wedding and that it is unclear who sent it. The Express says it was a 2019 letter from Markle's ex-wife, Roslyn.
-
Whether the Sussexes misled the public about Meghan's 2019 distress
- Right
- The Express, quoting Griffiths, says they let people believe the Royal Family was solely to blame. The Mail gives Meghan the benefit of the doubt, citing her statement that distance from her father was to protect her children.
Meghan Markle person
In a statement, Meghan said the distance from her father was to protect her children, and that a letter with 'troubling and disturbing allegations' had been sent to the police and passed to the Sussexes.
“any distance from my father... was for one reason: to protect them [her children]” — Daily Mail
Thomas Markle person
Thomas Markle Sr. vehemently denies the allegations and called them 'sick lies'; his daughter Samantha says her brother is motivated by 'media money'.
“Markle Sr vehemently denies the allegations” — Daily Mail
“told the Daily Mail that they were "sick lies"” — Daily Express
Prince William person
Prince William is presented by the Mail as having had a successful, relaxed TV appearance that was eclipsed by the Markle news.
“It ought to have been a clear win for William” — Daily Mail
Prince Harry person
Harry is reported as saying in a GQ interview that he wants to reconcile with his family but 'some people don't want it to work out'. The Express quotes Griffiths as saying he shouldered blame that belonged to Thomas Markle.
“‘some people don’t want it to work out’” — Daily Mail
“he shouldered a lot of the blame, when really, it sounds like most of the blame, if not all of it, is with Thomas Markle.” — Daily Express
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
-
Daily MailR · · Opinion
Sympathetic Column that frames William's TV success as overshadowed by the Sussex story, while expressing sympathy for Meghan over the allegations and hoping the denials prove true.
-
Daily ExpressR · · Opinion
'I was friends with Prince Harry - here's one big error he and Meghan made about Thomas'
Critical Relays Griffiths' view that the Sussexes let the Royal Family take blame that belonged to Thomas Markle, while allowing that Meghan may now get more leniency.
- 25 Oct 10:15 First Daily MailR SARAH VINE: The notion someone who played a pivotal role in your life could have a very dark side is genuinely traumatic. For once, Meghan has my sympathies Opinion
- 27 Oct 14:23 +52h 8m Daily ExpressR 'I was friends with Prince Harry - here's one big error he and Meghan made about Thomas' Opinion
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…