The Duchess of Sussex has been estranged from her father, Thoma,s since 2018, but has now written a letter to him after he was rushed to hospital and underwent leg amputation in the Philippines
15:20 ET, 13 Dec 2025Updated 00:29 ET, 14 Dec 2025
Meghan Markle’s father was recently hospitalized(Image: Getty Images for TIME)
Meghan Markle will require two specific conditions before any potential reconciliation meeting with her hospitalized father, a Royal expert has revealed.
The Duchess of Sussex has remained distant from her dad, Thomas, since 2018, when she wed Prince Harry following his involvement in staged paparazzi photographs leading up to their wedding day. Recent developments suggest that Meghan has penned a correspondence to her father, which has reached him during his hospital stay in the Philippines.
Reports indicate he had to have his leg amputated due to a severe blood clot and subsequently spoke to media outlets, expressing his desire not to pass away while separated from his daughter and his wish to meet Meghan’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, along with her spouse, Harry. It comes after Meghan doubled down on claims she ‘reached out’ to estranged father despite his denial.
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Despite this initial outreach between father and daughter, Royal commentator Jennie Bond suggests Meghan will approach any possible reunion with caution, reports the Mirror.
The former BBC Royal correspondent shared with the Mirror, “As I have often said, families are complicated. None of us truly knows what has gone on between Meghan and her father, but it is a very sad situation when a daughter cannot simply pick up the phone to call her dad.
Meghan and Thomas have been estranged since her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry
“It seems she has now contacted him by letter, and I’m sure that must be a great comfort to him as he lies in his hospital bed. But the Philippines is a long way away from Montecito. And, at the moment, it seems unlikely that Meghan is about to jump on a plane.
“She will also be wary because it seems that her father and brother are intent on giving their side of the story. So there would have to be a lot of trust and reassurance before any meeting.
Meghan and her father have a turbulent relationship(Image: Netflix)
“I’m sure Harry will support his wife in whatever she chooses to do about her relationship with her father. It would be nice to think he could meet his grandchildren – and indeed his son-in-law – before it is too late, and be reconciled with the daughter he loves.”
Mr Markle has apparently endured a series of health scares in recent years, including two heart attacks and a stroke that left him requiring speech therapy.
Meghan reached out to Thomas while he was in the hospital(Image: Netflix)
He was taken to the hospital earlier this month in the Philippines when his condition took a concerning downturn. The elderly man had to undergo intensive surgery to have his leg removed, which prompted his son Thomas Junior – Meghan’s half-brother – to beg her to “reach out” and demonstrate “compassion.”
While the sensitive situation develops out of public view, family counseling expert Dr. Jane Halsall also shared with The Mirror how difficult these kinds of fractured relationships can be, particularly when they unfold in the spotlight.
Thomas had to get his leg amputated(Image: Channel 5)
The chartered counseling psychologist noted that for adults like Meghan who are separated from their parents, it can be tricky to manage the fragile balance between protecting themselves and their basic care and worrying for their parent, especially when they fall ill, as Thomas has. “
Estrangement between adult children and parents is emotionally painful, often arising from boundary violations or disappointment,” the expert explained.
“Depending on the dynamics, adult children may worry for their parent, while needing to protect themselves, which leads to them experiencing both grief and ambivalence.”
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