Samantha Markle's defence of her father will likely 'do little to improve' his reputation, says RICHARD EDEN, after she claimed photograph at heart of child abuse probe 'may be one of his girlfriends'

On a special episode of Palace Confidential, Diary Editor Richard Eden forensically breaks down the disturbing allegations levelled against Thomas Markle, the estranged father of the Duchess of Sussex.

Last week, it emerged that police in the Philippines were investigating the 82-year-old over allegations he possessed child sexual abuse material.

The material was allegedly found in boxes shipped to Cebu from the home he had shared with his son in Mexico. The retired television lighting director, who Meghan has not had a relationship with since 2018, strenuously denies the accusations.

As reported by The Sun, it was Mr Markle's only son, Thomas Junior, who tipped police off. The 60-year-old, who had been living with his father in the Philippines, said he discovered indecent photographs and DVDs inside four cardboard boxes while searching for an old phone.

Samantha Markle, 61, Meghan's half-sister, has since leapt to the defence of her father, who is living in a nursing home in Florida.

She claimed that a photograph at the centre of the investigation, which The Sun alleges shows her father on a bed with a young-looking Asian woman, 'may be one of his girlfriends'.

Last week, it emerged that police in the Philippines were investigating Thomas Markle over allegations he possessed child sexual abuse material

Samantha Markle, the Duchess of Sussex's half-sister, (left) has since leapt to the defence of her father, who is living in a nursing home in Florida

Eden said Samantha's remarks 'may do little to improve her father's reputation in the court of public opinion'

Samantha went on: 'Dad dated a wonderful Japanese woman called Carolyn who I loved. She was in her 30s but she looked like a teenager.

'Asian women have great skin and are small and petite. They look much younger than they are.'

Eden said the remarks 'may do little to improve her father's reputation in the court of public opinion'.

Elsewhere in the episode, Eden spoke of his sympathy for Meghan, particularly in regard to an interview Thomas Senior gave to Fox News in 2021 which recent events have cast in a new light.

After news of the investigation broke, Meghan released a statement revealing she had known of allegations against her father since 2019.

The Duchess was forwarded a letter by the Met which the Daily Mail understands was written by Thomas's first wife Roslyn Loveless, who died in 2024.

'To suggest the Duchess is anything but a victim in this would be grotesque,' Eden began.

'One can only imagine how disturbing it would be to discover your half-brother is accusing your father of the most appalling of crimes.

'We can also only sympathise with her for the ordeal she must have suffered when she found out in 2021 that Thomas Senior claimed in a Fox News interview that he intended to petition a California court for 'the rights to see my grandchildren'.

'Meghan and Harry were living in California at the time, meaning her claim to have cut off her children from Thomas Senior, in light of the 2019 letter, in order to protect them, might have been in serious jeopardy.'

No charges have been brought, and Philippine police say they are still awaiting a warrant to examine the devices, with the FBI's Tampa office now assisting.

Watch Eden's explainer in full by subscribing to Palace Confidential on YouTube.

When actor and singer Sebastian Croft was named as part of this year's star–studded Celebrity Traitors line–up, fans could be forgiven for underestimating him. After all, most had no idea who he was.

Alongside the likes of Richard E Grant, Jerry Hall and Michael Sheen, the 24–year–old – who had a minor role in Game Of Thrones, but found fame in Netflix hit Heartstopper – was expected, perhaps, to remain in their shadows.

But Friday's final put a firm end to that as he rumbled the remaining Traitors and took the crown with fellow Faithful Romesh Ranganathan.

Describing his victory as 'just incredible', Bash said: 'This might actually be the best day of my life.'

When it comes to his career, that may well prove to be true. But Bash has been quietly carving out a showbusiness career, having attended acting academies since he was seven.

When he was a teenager, and already starring in the West End, his parents were so determined he would be a star they moved to a flat in Covent Garden so the theatre world was on his doorstep.

Bash's mother Doulla – who stood as a Green party candidate in Kensington and Chelsea in May's local elections, winning just 346 votes – said: 'We joke that from our flat it is quicker for us to go home in the interval to use the loos, than stand in a queue at the theatre.'

Bash's West End stage debut was in 2010 in Sam Mendes' production of Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and a year later he was cast as Gavroche in Les Miserables.

Actor Sebastian 'Bash' Croft, 24, has emerged as the breakout star of The Celebrity Traitors after winning the BBC competition alongside comedian Romesh Ranganathan

Bash’s mother Doulla stood as a Green party candidate in Kensington and Chelsea in May’s local elections, winning just 346 votes

Bash attended St Edward’s boarding school in Oxford. Pictured is St. Edward's School Woodstock Road, Oxford

Those who know Bash recall a comfortable upbringing. His father John is co–founder of Elevate, one of the leading innovators in the legal services industry, which generates about £100million in annual revenue.

Bash attended St Edward's boarding school in Oxford – where fees cost up to £62,000 a year – after leaving the nearby Dragon's independent school.

It means his £41,500 share of the Traitors prize pot, which will be donated to charity Choose Love, which supports LGBT refugees around the world, is rather small change.

But it is a cause close to his heart. He experienced his fair share of turmoil at St Edward's – in particular, after he was outed by a fellow student, who had also been his secret boyfriend. It led to him leaving the school at 16.

He said in an interview: 'I don't blame the other boy who did it, because he was obviously just also trying to navigate the fact that he was getting chipped for being gay. But it was a really lonely and difficult time in my life.'

He did his A–levels at the £35,000–a–year Mander Portman Woodward, a sixth–form college in Kensington.

After leaving school, Bash won the role of young Eddard Stark (portrayed by Sean Bean as an adult) in the sixth series of the HBO hit Game Of Thrones. His film debut came in the adaptation of Stephen Fry's novel The Hippopotamus, and he appeared in Horrible Histories: The Movie.

But his most prominent role has been as Ben Hope in the 2022 Netflix series Heartstopper, a coming–of–age drama about two teenage boys who fall in love.

Bash has kept his own love life out of the spotlight, but in recent weeks it has emerged that he dated his Heartstopper co–star Joe Locke. He is now single and focusing on a variety of projects. He releases his debut EP, The Great Forever, this month, while a weekly podcast, The Sunday Scaries With Bash Croft, starts today.

And armed with his friendship with the BBC's golden boy Ranganathan – along with the star–strewn cast of Celebrity Traitors – the opportunities are unlikely to dry up anytime soon.