Meghan Markle makes contact with her father as statement reveals 'exceedingly difficult' task
Thomas Markle had his leg amputated last weekMeghan Markle has reportedly made contact with her estranged father, Thomas Markle, after he underwent life-saving surgery.
Thomas, 81, had his left leg below the knee amputated last week due to a blood clot. The major surgery took place in the Philippines, where Thomas now lives with his son, Thomas Jr.
Thomas Jr confirmed the surgery during an interview with the Daily Mail last week.
Meghan Markle urged to contact father
Following the operation, Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Jr, urged the Duchess of Sussex to get in touch with her father. He said: “I would appeal to Meghan to show him compassion at this very difficult time.”
Thomas Sr later issued his own heartbreaking plea from hospital, reportedly telling a Daily Mail reporter: “I don’t want to die estranged from Meghan.”
He also apparently expressed a desire to at last meet Meghan’s family, saying: “I want to meet my grandkids. It might be nice to meet her husband too.”
‘Her correspondence is now safely in his hands’
As reported by the BBC, Thomas Sr has now received a letter from Meghan.
Her correspondence is now safely in his hands.
A spokesperson for the Duchess of Sussex reportedly said: “It has been exceedingly difficult for the duchess to contact her father privately, despite her efforts over the past several days.”
They then added: “With the support of reliable and trusted contacts, her correspondence is now safely in his hands.”
It was previously reported that Meghan had tried to reach out to her father amid his health ordeal, but the hospital claimed not to have received any calls or messages.
Meghan and Thomas Markle’s relationship
Meghan’s relationship with her father is believed to have deteriorated in the lead-up to her marriage to Prince Harry in May 2018.
Thomas had been set to attend the wedding, but was forced to pull out at the last minute to undergo heart surgery. It was also reported around the same time that he had paparazzi take staged photos of him preparing for the wedding.
Instead, Harry’s father, King Charles, walked Meghan down the aisle at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in his place.
It’s unclear if the father and daughter have been in contact since. However, Thomas has made several TV appearances pleading to see Meghan, as well as his grandchildren.
It’s believed Thomas has never met his son-in-law, Prince Harry, or either of his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet, now six and four.
Speaking to the Mail on Sunday recently, Thomas said: “I’ve always said I am open to reconciling with my daughter. I have never stopped loving her.”
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