Meghan Markle is facing renewed scrutiny after reports that she sent a letter - rather than making contact in person - to her father, Thomas Markle Sr., following his emergency leg amputation in the Philippines, a development that has reignited long-running debate over estrangement, family duty and public image surrounding the Duchess of Sussex.
Thomas Markle Sr., 81, was hospitalized in Cebu after a blood clot cut off circulation to his left foot, forcing doctors to amputate his leg below the knee. His son, Thomas Markle Jr., said the condition had become life-threatening after the limb "turned black," and that the surgery lasted roughly three hours. He is now recovering in a rehabilitation unit.
According to accounts cited by RadarOnline, Meghan Markle, 44, responded by sending a letter through intermediaries rather than traveling or speaking directly with her father. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from royal commentators and former palace sources, particularly given the duchess's public messaging around compassion, healing and family unity.
One source told RadarOnline, "Most other daughters would be by their father's side if he was in that much need, not just send him a letter." The same source added: "It's pathetic and also hypocritical when it's seen in comparison with her promotion of family-friendly messages on her Netflix shows. Meghan needs to take a good look at herself and her relationship with her father."
The episode has revived broader discussion about the long-running rupture between Meghan and her father, who has not seen his daughter since before her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry. Thomas Markle Sr. has previously said he feels shut out of his daughter's life, while Meghan has cited breaches of trust and media dealings as reasons for the estrangement.
The situation has also reignited scrutiny of Prince Harry's role in managing family relationships. Royal observers quoted in the report described what they see as a longstanding pattern of defensiveness toward the press that hardened during the early years of the couple's relationship.
One royal expert recalled being "absolutely stunned" by Harry's reaction to early media commentary about Meghan, saying: "We were absolutely stunned by that. I couldn't believe he actually did it." The same source added that, at the time, "the vast majority of coverage - around 99 percent - was very positive and welcoming."
According to that account, Harry's response to criticism marked the beginning of a more combative stance toward media institutions, one that later became central to his public narrative. "From Spare and everything that's happened since, it's clear Harry bottled up and released a lot of anger and frustration," the source said, adding, "But his brother (Prince) William went through similar challenges and has managed to cope."
Critics argue that this posture has contributed to an increasingly rigid approach to personal boundaries, even in moments of medical emergency. Insiders say the Sussexes' tendency to sever contact rather than engage has become a defining feature of their relationship management, particularly with extended family.
Meanwhile, Thomas Markle Sr. has reportedly begun standing on his remaining leg during rehabilitation and described that milestone as a "wonderful Christmas present." His recovery has unfolded far from the Montecito home where Meghan and Prince Harry live with their children, underscoring the physical and emotional distance that continues to define the family dynamic.
