Meghan Will Not Visit Hospitalized Father Until Two Conditions Are Met, Claims Expert
Any chance of Meghan Markle repairing her relationship with her father, Thomas Markle, is said to hinge on two significant things being fulfilled first. According to a royal expert, these conditions are essential before any face-to-face contact can take place. This development has highlighted how cautious the Duchess remains about reopening communication with the estranged family member.
Meghan will need two major conditions to be met before she meets her father in hopes of reconciliation. According to The Mirror, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes “a lot of trust and reassurance” is required before the estranged father and daughter can rebuild their bond. The comments come as Thomas is recovering in the hospital after suffering a serious health emergency earlier this month. He resides in the Philippines.
Thomas was rushed to the hospital after falling seriously ill at home and had to go under the knife to amputate his lower leg and foot. Although he is no longer in the ICU, he is still hospitalized. Amid his recovery, Meghan reportedly made contact with her father by writing him a letter this week. Despite the development, the father-daughter duo have not spoken to one another since their public fallout in 2018. Moreover, no in-person meetings appear inherent despite the dire circumstances.
Speaking further, Bond expressed, “As I have often said, families are complicated. None of us truly knows what has gone on between Meghan and her father, but it is a very sad situation when a daughter cannot simply pick up the phone to her dad. It seems she has now contacted him by letter, and I’m sure that must be a great comfort to him as he lies in his hospital bed. But the Philippines is a long way away from Montecito. And, at the moment, it seems unlikely that Meghan is about to jump on a plane.” The correspondent noted that the Duchess is “wary” of her father and half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, due to their history of speaking publicly about their family matters.
Bond reiterated that caution remains Meghan’s utmost concern in such circumstances. She added, “So there would have to be a lot of trust and reassurance before any meeting.” Due to the estrangement, Thomas Markle has not met Prince Harry or his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. As per the Daily Mail, Thomas has been vocal about mending things with Meghan. He once said in an interview, “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.”
Thomas Markle’s health scare also brought to the fore poignant remarks he made about his funeral in an earlier interview with journalist Caroline Graham. Reported by the Daily Mail, Graham recalled Thomas asking her, “Do you think Meghan will come to my funeral?” He then diffused the tension by immediately joking and adding, “Will I get a better funeral because my son-in-law is fifth in line to the throne?” These claims are coming to light as everyone is echoing the same sentiments. They have been urging Meghan to reconcile with her father, including Prince Harry. As per Rob Shuter’s Substack, an insider said, “Harry knows estrangement. He made peace with his dad; now he wants Meghan to have the same chance. He's been saying, 'Don't wait, do it now.'”