Meghan Markle's Niece Says She Sensed Something Was Off About Her Grandfather Since Childhood
Noelle Rasmussen, niece of the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, has spoken publicly for the first time about her grandfather Thomas Markle, who faces allegations linked to child sexual abuse material. She supports her aunt's decision to keep him from Meghan's children.
The family of Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex and a member of the British royal family, has been shaken by allegations against her father, 82-year-old Thomas Markle. He has come to the attention of investigators over suspicions of possessing child sexual abuse material. In a recent interview, his granddaughter Noelle Rasmussen spoke publicly about the matter for the first time.
Rasmussen is the daughter of Meghan's half-sister Samantha Markle. She said that as a child she occasionally felt a strange discomfort in her grandfather's presence. In her words, it may have been something her subconscious picked up: a person does not consciously register that something is wrong, but the body signals it.
She admitted the news of the allegations did not greatly surprise her, though she said she does not know why. At the same time, she stressed that her grandfather never sexually abused her and that she does not know whether he would be capable of harming any family member.
Support for Meghan's decision
Rasmussen fully backs her aunt Meghan's decision not to let her father meet her children: seven-year-old Prince Archie and five-year-old Princess Lilibet. She said she would not want her own children near someone accused of such offences either.
Where the allegations come from
The police were alerted to the alleged illegal material by Thomas Markle's own son, 60-year-old Thomas Markle Jr. He claims he found disturbing images in several boxes at his father's former home in the Philippines and handed them to law enforcement.
Thomas Markle Sr. categorically denies all the accusations. He calls them lies and says he does not understand why his own son would try to destroy his reputation. Markle has said he could never do what he is accused of.
