The Duchess of Sussex broke contact with her father last year, telling him she and the authorities knew he had abused young girls, the BBC understands.

Sources close to the duchess said Meghan warned Thomas Markle in a letter that he would never meet his grandchildren.

It is understood the letter was sent to Markle, 82, while he was in hospital in the Philippines after having his leg amputated.

It has been reported that images of child sexual abuse allegedly belonging to Markle had been found in his former home in the Philippines and UK police in 2019 told Meghan about claims of abuse against him. Markle, who is based in the US, denies all such allegations.

Meghan has been estranged from her father since 2018.…