New Details Emerge After Meghan Markle’s Father Was Hospitalized amid Their Years-Long Estrangement

Meghan Markle's father faces a medical crisis overseas. Now, from his hospital bed, he's sharing a message that could shift the future of their estranged bond.

After a serious health scare abroad, Thomas Markle has made a rare public statement. His son has also shared details about the situation as it unfolded.

Recovering in the hospital, Meghan Markle's dad has broken years of silence with a personal message that addresses the distance between him and his daughter, and the family he's never met.

According to a Daily Mail report by Caroline Graham on December 14, 2025, Thomas, 81, is recovering under close medical care in the Philippines after a serious operation. Caroline, a longtime family friend, flew to be by his side and shared first-hand observations from the hospital.

Thomas was reportedly hospitalized early this month after a fall at home. Doctors discovered a serious blood clot in his thigh and prepared for an emergency amputation. On December 3, he sent a message from his hospital bed to Caroline, warning that he might lose his leg.

Caroline quickly alerted his son, Thomas Markle Jr., who lives with their father. After speaking with the surgeon, Thomas Jr. described the situation as "life or death."

In a previous Daily Mail article from December 6, Thomas addressed claims that Meghan had reached out. He said there had been no contact but made clear he was still open to reconciliation. He added:

"Of course I want to speak to her but I am not sure if these are the right circumstances. I've always said I am open to reconciling with my daughter. I have never stopped loving her. I don't want to die estranged from Meghan. I want to meet my grandkids. It might be nice to meet her husband too."

The estrangement began shortly before Meghan's 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, after Thomas withdrew from attending the ceremony due to health complications.

A series of public interviews followed, further straining their relationship. Despite Thomas's repeated efforts to reach out over the years, Meghan has largely remained silent.

Prince Harry lifts Meghan Markle’s veil during their wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on May 19, 2018 | Source: Getty Images

Caroline's report noted that, following the publication of her earlier article, she received messages from someone on Meghan's PR team. She described the tone of the message as "unnecessarily aggressive" and referred the matter to the newspaper's legal and editorial departments.

Meghan Markle leaves the Balenciaga Diner in Paris, France, on October 4, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

On December 10, Page Six reported that Meghan had reached out to her father, contradicting his previous statement to the Daily Mail that he had not heard from her.

A spokesperson for the Duchess said her efforts to communicate privately had been hampered by the continued presence of a Daily Mail reporter at her father's bedside. The representative claimed Caroline's involvement had made contact difficult and referenced "clear ethical boundaries" they believed had been crossed.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, at Project Healthy Minds' World Mental Health Day Festival on October 10, 2025, in New York. | Source: Getty Images

Nonetheless, the spokesperson confirmed that a message was ultimately delivered, adding that, with help from "reliable and trusted contacts," her correspondence had been "safely" passed on.

Meghan Markle speaks at a mental health summit in New York City on October 10, 2023 | Source: Getty Images

In response, DMG Media said Caroline had traveled to the Philippines at Thomas's request. They described her as both a journalist and Thomas's close family friend since 2018, and stated she had been supporting him during his hospital stay.

The company added that, with Thomas's consent, Caroline shared his contact details, hospital name, and room number with Meghan's team. DMG Media denied the claim that interactions were being publicly broadcast and rejected suggestions of any ethical breach.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend the USA vs. Nigeria wheelchair basketball match at the 2025 Invictus Games in Vancouver on February 9, 2025 | Source: Getty Images

This latest hospitalization and public appeal for reconciliation adds a new chapter to their long-standing estrangement, coming months after Thomas's criticisms of Meghan's surname change and Netflix series sparked widespread debate online

A netizen's comment on Thomas Markle's thoughts about his daughter's name change, posted on March 10, 2025 | Source: Facebook/pagesix

As reported on March 10, Thomas revealed how his late mother would have felt about the matter. "My mum loved Meghan very much but she would be so disappointed to hear that Meghan no longer wants to use the name 'Markle.' My mother was proud to be a Markle. So am I," he said.

He claimed the Duchess of Sussex never had an issue with it until she married Harry. Sarcastically, he added, "Now I have to say, 'I am Meghan Sussex's dad.'"

Beyond the name change, Thomas also weighed in on Meghan's public image, especially her Netflix series, "With Love, Meghan."

Though he hasn't watched it in full, he said he has seen clips and read reports. Based on the footage, showing Meghan beekeeping, cooking, and repackaging store-bought pretzels, he criticized her presentation as "inauthentic."

Drawing from his background in Hollywood, where he worked on productions such as "Married With Children" and "General Hospital," he argued that hosting requires genuine passion. "Cooking show are horrendously boring unless the presenter has a passion for it, [sic]" he said.

Thomas believes Meghan is too focused on appearing perfect, making her seem unnatural on camera. He claimed she carefully plans everything she says and does rather than being spontaneous.

Having observed her over the years, he said he can tell when she is acting. "I know when she's faking it for the cameras. She's trying so hard to be perfect that she tenses up every time the camera is on her," he explained.

He contrasted this with successful TV personalities, saying the best hosts are relaxed, funny, and unafraid to make mistakes. In his view, Meghan's need for perfection makes her less authentic and overly controlled in her presentation.

He also said he still does not understand why she "dumped" him, but believes she never forgave him for missing her wedding.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle outside St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on May 19, 2018 | Source: Getty Images

Many online users reacted to Thomas's comments, with opinions divided over Meghan's decision and their strained relationship. One person remarked, "The more he talks to the press, the more she's going to keep her distance from him."

Others criticized Meghan for severing ties with her father. "Really sad how she treats her father! Her father made a mistake, it wasn't so horrible to never speak to him again!" another user wrote. However, some defended Meghan, arguing that she distances herself because Thomas frequently speaks to the media about their relationship.

Meghan Markle at the 2024 SXSW Conference in Austin, Texas, on March 8, 2024 | Source: Getty Images

Some went further, accusing the Duchess of mistreating her family. "It's cruel what she put her family through u don’t treat ppl u love like that karma [sic]," a commenter added.

Some expressed sympathy for Thomas, saying he is aging and has never met his grandchildren. They argued that, as Meghan's father, he has the right to share his thoughts on her show and urged Meghan to reconcile with him for the sake of her children.

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and Archie during their South Africa tour on September 25, 2019 | Source: Getty Images

Some weighed in on Meghan's name change, pointing out that she is married and has chosen to go by Meghan Sussex, emphasizing that it was her decision. Another user questioned the controversy, noting that it is common for women to take their husband's last name after marriage.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the High Altar during their wedding at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on May 19, 2018 | Source: Getty Images

Meanwhile, others felt Thomas should move on, acknowledging that he made mistakes. They supported Meghan's choice to change her last name and praised her show, eagerly anticipating a second season.

Thomas's interview with The Daily Mail UK came after Meghan stated in her Netflix series, which premiered on March 4, that she now goes by the surname "Sussex."

Meghan Markle is pictured with a guest on her new show, "With Love, Meghan," as seen in a photo shared on March 4, 2025 | Source: Instagram/meghan

The show, which blends cooking, gardening, and decorating, featured Meghan hosting celebrity guests. In the second episode, actress and writer Mindy Kaling appeared alongside Meghan, and during their conversation, Meghan corrected Mindy after she referred to her as "Meghan Markle."

Meghan Markle is pictured with Mindy Kaling, dated March 4, 2025 | Source: Instagram/meghan

"It's so funny that you keep saying Meghan Markle. You know, I'm Sussex now," she told Mindy.

Meghan also opened up about why this shift in her last name feels so significant. "You have kids and you go, 'No, I share my name with my children and that feels so, I didn't know how meaningful it would be to me but it just feels so much. This is our family name, our little family name," she explained.

Meghan had previously spoken about her attachment to the Sussex name in an interview with People ahead of her show's release.

"It's our shared name as a family, and I guess I hadn't recognized how meaningful that would be to me until we had children," Meghan said. "I love that that is something that Archie, Lili, H and I all have together. It means a lot to me."

Meghan Markle and Harry were granted the Sussex title by Queen Elizabeth II on their wedding day in 2018. Even after stepping back from royal duties in 2020, the couple retained their Duke and Duchess titles.

Meghan added that the name represents more than just a formal title to her. According to her, the Sussex name, "is part of our love story."