Thomas Markle, the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was arrested Friday in Florida by federal agents on charges involving child sexual abuse material, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.

The 82-year-old faces allegations involving sexually explicit images of himself with underage girls, including prepubescent children, according to federal prosecutors. The arrest marks a dramatic development in a case that has drawn international attention and reignited scrutiny of the fractured relationship between Markle and his daughter.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, who leads the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles, said Markle is accused of possessing child sexual abuse material, including photographs allegedly depicting him with minor girls.

The allegations stem from an investigation into material reportedly stored in two Los Angeles-area storage units that Markle rented for nearly two decades.

Federal Agents Seize Suspected Child Sexual Abuse Material

According to the Justice Department, Markle allegedly kept sexually explicit photographs of himself with prepubescent girls in the storage units.

Federal agents reportedly seized approximately 78 items, including photographic slides, film negatives and books containing suspected child sexual abuse material.

Among the seized evidence, investigators identified two images depicting a man whom a witness identified as Markle alongside a nude prepubescent girl, the DOJ said.

Another image allegedly showed a nude girl inside a room that federal investigators said appeared to be part of a motel chain in the Philippines.

The seized materials are now central to the federal case, as investigators examine the evidence supporting the allegations against Markle.

The Justice Department has not publicly detailed all the circumstances surrounding the alleged offenses.

Thomas Markle Expected to Appear in Federal Court

Markle is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court Friday. He has not yet entered a plea to the charges.

If convicted, the 82-year-old could face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, according to the Justice Department.

CNN said it was working to determine whether Markle has legal representation.

The arrest was first reported by the Daily Mail, which has previously published interviews with Markle concerning the allegations.

When CNN sought comment from Meghan's representatives about the arrest, a spokesperson for the duchess said they had no comment at this time.

Meghan Markle Previously Expressed Distress Over Allegations

The federal arrest follows a series of developments involving allegations against Markle that emerged in October.

Meghan, who has been estranged from her father for years, previously said she was "deeply distressed" by a report alleging that Thomas Markle possessed a collection of images depicting child sexual abuse.

The duchess's relationship with her father has been strained for years. Markle did not attend her daughter's 2018 wedding to Britain's Prince Harry.

The allegations became public after Thomas Markle Jr., Meghan's half-brother, told Britain's The Sun newspaper that he had discovered a collection of indecent images involving underage children.

Markle Jr. said he found the material in storage boxes and on computer hard drives at his father's home in the Philippines. He subsequently reported the discovery to authorities.

The Philippines Justice Department's child abuse unit told CNN that the matter was under investigation.

Thomas Markle Denies Allegations as Investigations Expand

Thomas Markle Sr. has vehemently denied the allegations.

In an interview with Britain's Daily Mail newspaper, he said he was shocked and hurt by the accusations made by his son.

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

He also disputed the circumstances surrounding the computer equipment, saying it had not been in his possession since he left Mexico with Thomas Markle Jr. in 2025.

Markle Jr. has also said he reported his findings to U.S. authorities.

In October, the FBI confirmed to CNN that it was aware of the allegations involving Markle Sr., a U.S. citizen, and said it would provide support to Philippine authorities as appropriate.

The agency also said it would investigate any related allegations involving potential violations of federal U.S. law.

The arrest in Florida represents a significant development in the case, bringing the allegations into the U.S. federal criminal justice system as investigators continue examining the evidence.