Authorities in the Philippines are investigating allegations that the Duchess of Sussex’s father Thomas Markle kept child sex abuse images at his former home.

Meghan’s half-brother Thomas Jr told that he had found “hundreds” of child sex images on computers and a cellphone, which were left behind at his home on Cebu when his father moved from the Philippines earlier this year.

Mr Markle Jnr said he submitted a police statement in the country, telling the newspaper he was “horrified” by what he found, which gave him “no option” but to report his father. “I won’t speak to my father ever again unless I’m called to give evidence against him”, he said.

He is said to have reported his discovery to the FBI Hotline and to the state police in Pennsylvania, as well as the US-based National Centre for Exploited and Missing Children in July.

Now, Nicholas Ty, undersecretary for the Philippines Department of Justice, confirmed an investigation was under way. He told ITV News: “Our Anti-Trafficking and Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children taskforce in Cebu is currently investigating the matter.”

Mr Markle Sr has denied the accusations and said he believed his son was “trying to destroy” him.

He said: “I’m shocked, I’m hurt and I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me. I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of.

“This is bulls***. It’s just a bunch of lies. It’s sick. I have no idea why Tom is trying to destroy me with these lies.”

Mr Markle Sr was forced to return to the US from Cebu after suffering a stroke and a blood clot, which led to the amputation of his left leg and he is reportedly now living in a rehab centre in Florida, where he is learning to walk again.

Meghan “reached out” to him in the aftermath of the operation, a spokesperson for the duchess said, and Meghan was also said to have tried to do so previously.

The duchess became estranged from her former TV lighting director father in the run-up to her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry after he was caught staging paparazzi photographs.

On Friday, Meghan said she was made aware of “disturbing allegations” about her father in the same year.

Referencing her brother’s claims, she said in a statement: “I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed.

“In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. That letter was subsequently shared with me.

“It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated.

“I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications’ distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason: to protect them.

“I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families.

“Although the breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine, my sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children.”

Mr Markle Sr did not attend Meghan’s wedding, leaving the King to accompany her down the aisle and meaning the only member of her family present was her mother, Doria Ragland.

The Duchess was the only child of Mr Markle’s marriage to Ms Ragland, though he has two children – Samantha and Thomas Jr – from an earlier marriage.

It is understood the Metropolitan Police is not currently and has not previously investigated Mr Markle Sr.

The force said it is making internal inquiries regarding officers from the Met’s Royalty and Specialist Protection Command being involved in the passing on of a letter.

A spokesperson said: “We are aware of media reports that officers from the Met’s Royalty and Specialist Protection Command were involved in the passing on of a letter in 2018.

“We are undertaking inquiries internally in an effort to confirm this.”