Meghan Markle's estranged father 'stuck in Philippines building after massive earthquake'

Meghan Markle's father is "stuck on the 19th floor of a building in the Philippines after a massive earthquake", according to the Duchess of Sussex's estranged half-sister, Samantha Markle.

The 60-year-old took to the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to reveal the news to her followers.

Samantha wrote: "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."

She went on to blame Meghan for the situation, as the Duchess of Sussex and her father have not been in contact for several years.

Meghan and her father became estranged in the lead-up to her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.

Before the wedding, Thomas admitted he had collaborated with photographers to stage pictures of himself being fitted for a suit and reading about his daughter’s marriage.

The story caused widespread media coverage and embarrassment.

Days before the wedding, Thomas announced he would not attend due to health issues after reportedly suffering a heart attack.

Meghan was walked down part of the aisle by then-Prince Charles.

In the months and years after the wedding, Thomas repeatedly gave interviews to newspapers and television outlets, speaking critically about Meghan and Harry.

According to the Duchess, this public commentary was at odds with her privacy preference and deepened the rift.

In 2018, Meghan wrote a private letter to her father asking him to stop speaking to the press.

Parts of that letter were later published by the Mail on Sunday, leading Meghan to sue the paper for misuse of private information — a case she won.

Since then, Meghan has not had contact with her father. In interviews, including her 2021 Oprah Winfrey conversation, she said she felt betrayed by his decision to speak to the press and share private communications.

Samantha is Meghan’s older half-sister from their father Thomas’s first marriage. According to the Duchess, they did not grow up together and have not had a close relationship.

The 60-year-old Samantha has been outspoken about Meghan in media interviews, particularly since her relationship with Prince Harry became public.

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In 2022, Samantha sued Meghan for defamation, claiming the Duchess made false statements during the Oprah interview and in other contexts.

Meghan’s legal team described the lawsuit as “baseless.”

In May 2022, Thomas suffered a major stroke that left him hospitalised and unable to attend Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, where he had been expected. Reports at the time said the stroke left him with limited speech.

Thomas has also had heart problems and is reported to have ongoing health issues that affect his mobility.

In photos and video interviews after his stroke, he has appeared seated, but he can walk short distances with assistance.