A letter sent to the Metropolitan Police making a number of claims relating to the Duchess of Sussex’s father was written by his ex-wife Roslyn Loveless, the BBC understands.

Meghan confirmed on Friday she had previously been informed about “disturbing allegations” about her estranged father, Thomas Markle.

On Saturday, the Met confirmed it received a letter relating to Markle in 2019, and it was shared with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the time.

It has been reported that images of child sexual abuse allegedly belonging to Markle, 82, had been found in his former home in the Philippines. Markle, who is based in the US, denies all such allegations.

Loveless, who has since died, is the mother of Meghan’s half-siblings Samantha Markle and Thomas Markle Jr. Loveless divorced Markle in 1975 before he married the Duchess’ mother Doria Ragland in 1979.

Meghan was born in 1981 and is the only daughter of Markle and Ragland.

In a statement shared on Friday, Meghan confirmed the existence of the letter and wrote: “I am deeply distressed… my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed.”

She said she hoped it could be understood why she had largely cut off contact from her father and did “not allow him to have contact with our children”.

Meghan has been estranged from her father since 2018. The BBC understands she broke contact with him last year, telling him she and the authorities knew he had abused young girls.

Sources close to the duchess said Meghan warned Markle in a letter – sent while he was in hospital in the Philippines after having his leg amputated – that he would never meet his grandchildren.

On Friday, Meghan’s half-brother claimed to the Sun on Friday he found a stash of images belonging to his father at his former Philippines home.

He is reported to have told police he discovered child abuse videos and pictures among the items.

He also apologised to Meghan for initially siding with her father during their long-running estrangement, and said he had “been protecting the wrong person for the past nine years”.

It is understood that he contacted the US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) about the images in July. The FBI has since confirmed it is aware of the allegations.

Officials in the Philippines have confirmed they are investigating allegations relating to Markle.

They told the BBC on Friday that the Philippines’ anti-human trafficking and child sexual exploitation task force was investigating the matter.

Markle gave an interview to the Mail on Sunday in which he acknowledged paying for sex in the Philippines on past visits but denied sleeping with underage girls and ever possessing child abuse images.

The Met Police has said it did not pass on the contents of the letter shared with the Sussexes to other law enforcement agencies. The force is now reviewing its handling of the matter.

Markle moved to the Philippines last year after he had a series of strokes.

He is reportedly now living in a Florida rehabilitation centre learning to walk again after having his leg amputated.