Meghan Markle Videotaped Her Letter Being Delivered to Her Father in the Hospital: Insider
Meghan Markle and her father, Thomas Markle, have shared a complicated relationship for years following a series of public falling-outs. However, following his recent health crisis, the Duchess of Sussex finally made contact, although in a highly unusual manner. Just weeks ago, reports suggested that the 81-year-old had a major life-saving operation, which saw his leg being amputated due to a blood clot. As the news broke, the Duchess wrote to her father. While others might have simply called or texted, Meghan had a letter hand-delivered and even had the transaction videotaped. But given the past, she might have a good reason for it.
As reported by journalist Caroline Graham for The Mail on Sunday, Meghan opted for a formal delivery method and sent the letter to her father’s hospital bed through the local US Consulate. A lawyer was also present to witness the handover and videotaped the exchange to have a formal record of the delivery. This gesture is said to be Meghan’s first contact with her father in years; however, it remains unclear if Thomas has replied to his daughter or not. A spokesperson for Meghan confirmed the move while also hinting at the reason why she chose a letter instead of a direct call or message.
“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,” her spokesperson opined. But with the help of reliable sources and people, “her correspondence is now safely in his hands.” This decision was heavily influenced by the fact that the bedside reporter, Caroline Graham, has been a close personal friend of Thomas since 2018.
The Mail reporter has described him as a ‘father figure,’ leading Meghan and her team to worry that, given their close relationship, the contents of her text or message might get leaked. However, as per The Guardian, DMG Media, the parent company of the Daily Mail, has rejected the Duchess’s claim that the relationship breached journalistic ethics. Nevertheless, Meghan moved with caution and opted for a letter instead. Such extreme precautions come as no surprise, given that the 81-year-old famously leaked a private letter from his daughter in the past, which eventually resulted in the breakdown of their relationship.
Meghan married Prince Harry in 2018, and while this would have been the happiest day of her life, it was not without its controversies. Shortly before the couple said their ‘I Dos,’ Thomas staged paparazzi photos of himself preparing for the wedding. He also gave several interviews against not just his daughter but also the royal family. In response, Meghan reached out with a five-page emotional letter expressing her heartbreak over his actions. However, Thomas leaked substantial portions of the letter to The Mail, claiming to have done so in defense of himself after friends of the Duchess told PEOPLE that the letter was a kind peace offering.
Thomas disagreed with the narrative and suggested that the five-page letter was, in fact, a cold goodbye. The Duchess then sued The Mail for invading her privacy, and after a long legal battle, she won the case in 2021. The judge ruled that the letter was deeply personal and the newspaper outlet had no right to publish it.