Thomas Markle Sr., the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was arrested in Florida on Friday in connection with allegations that he possessed child sexual abuse material, according to three sources who spoke to CBS News and a separate report from CNN, citing the Associated Press. The case remains under seal, and no formal charges have been made public.

Details of the arrest are still thin. CBS News did not name the city where he was taken into custody, while a Daily Mail account relayed by Ynet places the arrest at a care facility in Lakeland, though Ynet notes the FBI has not independently confirmed the report and it remains unclear whether formal charges have been filed.

The allegations are not new. CBS News reported last month that Philippine authorities were investigating Markle over alleged possession of child sexual abuse material, after his estranged son, Thomas Markle Jr., turned his father's personal items over to police there, according to a Philippine National Police spokesperson. It is not clear whether Friday's arrest stems directly from that overseas probe.

A long, public estrangement

Markle, 82, has had no relationship with his daughter or her children since before her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry. CBS News reports that Meghan has said she learned of similar allegations against her father back in 2018 and shared them with U.K. authorities at the time — one of the reasons, she has said, that she and Harry cut off his contact with their children.

Markle has denied the allegations. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said, "I have never downloaded anything like that in my life," and described the claims as "sick lies."

"I HAVE NEVER DOWNLOADED ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN MY LIFE."

With the case sealed, it isn't yet clear what specific charges, if any, Markle faces, or which agency led Friday's arrest. CBS News says it will update its reporting as the case develops; the Observer will do the same.