The Duchess of Sussex has finally reached her father Thomas Markle in hospital
The Duchess of Sussex has managed to make contact with her estranged father Thomas Markle whilst he remains in hospital through a written letter, her spokesperson has confirmed.
Meghan’s written communication is reportedly “safely” with her father, who has a reporter stationed at his bedside “broadcasting each interaction”, the spokesperson revealed.
Mr Markle has undergone amputation of his left leg, according to media reports, and informed the Mail on Sunday that he does not want to die whilst separated from his daughter, expressing his desire to meet Meghan’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, along with her husband, the Duke of Sussex.
Last Friday, the duchess’ spokesperson announced she had “reached out” to her father, from whom she has been alienated since her 2018 wedding when he was discovered orchestrating staged paparazzi photographs in the lead-up to the ceremony. However, The Mail on Sunday claimed Mr Markle was “confused” by this assertion and stated he hadn’t received any communications despite keeping the same telephone number.
Meghan’s spokesperson has provided a fresh update confirming the contact was made through a letter: “Given that a Daily Mail reporter has remained at her father’s bedside throughout, broadcasting each interaction and breaching clear ethical boundaries, it has been exceedingly difficult for the duchess to contact her father privately, despite her efforts over the past several days. With the support of reliable and trusted contacts, her correspondence is now safely in his hands.”
It is understood that Meghan had contacted journalists at the Mail to obtain any means of reaching her father, as well as details of the hospital where he is receiving treatment, but had received no reply. She also telephoned numerous hospitals in the Philippines but was unsuccessful, according to a source.
Additionally, Meghan does not possess a telephone number for Mr Markle and believes he does not have access to a phone whilst in hospital, it is understood.
Meghan is said to have attempted to contact her father previously. The source also accused the Mail of “puppeteering this desperately sad situation”.
A spokesman for the Daily Mail’s parent company DMG Media said in a statement: “Our journalist, Caroline Graham, has had a close relationship with Mr Markle since 2018. He contacted Ms Graham when he was taken ill and asked her to travel to the Philippines to be with him. Nothing has been published without his specific consent, and that of his son.”
The spokesperson added: “Ms Graham has confirmed to the Duchess of Sussex’s representative that Mr Markle does not have an active email address but that his phone number, which the duchess has previously used for him, remains unchanged. Ms Graham has made clear that if she can do anything to facilitate contact between Mr Markle and his daughter to have a conversation, then she would be happy to do so. That remains the case. Any suggestion we have ‘puppeteered’ Mr Markle is entirely false and strongly denied.”
Mr Markle, who relocated from Mexico to the Philippines, has yet to meet his grandchildren Archie, six, and Lilibet, four. The former TV lighting director was rushed into intensive care on Wednesday following a three-hour emergency procedure, according to the Daily Mail. He subsequently had his leg amputated below the knee after his foot became severely discoloured.
Mr Markle withdrew from attending Harry and Meghan’s nuptials seven years ago following revelations he had orchestrated paparazzi photographs in the US, before suffering a cardiac episode.
King Charles stepped in to escort Meghan down the aisle. Mr Markle subsequently gave numerous media interviews and later alleged he had been “shunned” by Meghan.
Mr Markle voiced criticism of the Duchess whilst maintaining his desire for reconciliation, making public appeals to see Archie and Lili, declaring in 2023: “She is not the person I knew as my daughter.”
The duchess secured victory in a High Court privacy and copyright case against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) concerning articles that published excerpts from a “personal and private” handwritten letter she had penned to Mr Markle in an attempt to persuade him to cease speaking to the press.
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