Thomas Markle has set the record straight after his daughter Samantha – who is a half-sister to the Duchess of Sussex – claimed he was trapped in a building in the Philippines after an earthquake
Meghan Markle’s father has hit back after his daughter Samantha claimed he was “trapped” in his home in the Philippines after a massive earthquake struck the country.
Samantha, who is a half-sister to the Duchess of Sussex, took to social media on Wednesday as she claimed that the 6.9 magnitude quake – which hit the province of Cebu on Tuesday night – left their father trapped in his high-rise tower block apartment and unable to get out. Now, Thomas has spoken out on his condition, assuring people that he is “fine” and is no way ‘trapped’ or ‘unable to walk.
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Mr Markle spoke to TMZ after his daughter’s tweets, saying: “Please don’t worry about me, everything is okay,” before thanking everyone for their concern over his wellbeing.
He added that he’s safe in his hotel room, and in no way is he “trapped” and “unable to walk”, explaining that his hotel wasn’t impacted by the quake at all, adding: “The epicentre was 100 miles from here.”
Mr Markle said he himself was confused by his daughter’s claims online, saying he hadn’t spoken to her since the earthquake hit the region, and wasn’t sure why she would say he had been trapped.
He told the publication: “I’m currently sitting on the couch in my hotel room, with my feet kicked up and watching Charlie Chan movies. I’m quite comfortable.”
On Wednesday, just hours after the earthquake, Samantha – who has long been highly critical of the Duchess of Sussex – took to X saying: “My father is stuck on the 19th floor of a building in the Philippines after a massive earthquake and he can’t walk and he is trapped.”
Just hours later, she made her X account private. She offered a further update later on Wednesday, saying he is now “OK, and making plans to get out of that building”.
Thomas, 80, who is estranged from the Duchess of Sussex , moved to the Philippines earlier this year, where he is being cared for by Meghan’s half-brother, Tom. Mr Markle is said to have had two heart attacks and a stroke in recent years and now must deal with the tropical island’s punishing heat.
The regional Emmy award-winner was seen using a walking stick to help him get around the area’s uneven roads and paths, many of which are affected by constant traffic and the unforgiving climate.
Prince Harry has never met his father-in-law, but did speak to him on the phone before he married Meghan in May 2018 and asked for his daughter’s hand in marriage.
Thomas was due to walk the former Suits actress down the aisle at the Windsor Castle ceremony, but told how he was forced to pull out on doctors’ orders after two heart attacks led to his being hospitalised and having two stents inserted days before the ceremony.
The medical drama came after Thomas Snr was embroiled in a row after appearing in staged paparazzi photographs before the ceremony. He has told pals his decision to seek a new life abroad in the Philippines was because he was seeking “peace” and “kinder people”.
