Meghan Markle's Dad Thomas Is Reportedly 'Struggling' In The Philippines Amid Their Bitter Rift

Meghan Markle's father, Thomas Markle Sr., is reportedly "struggling" after relocating to the Philippines earlier this year.

Thomas, who has been estranged from Meghan, explained that he was looking for a fresh start as he'd "felt stuck in a rut" for some time.

He's yet to meet his grandkids, Archie and Lilibet, as his pleas to mend his strained relationship with Meghan Markle seem to have been ignored by the royal.

The estranged father of the Duchess of Sussex is reportedly experiencing difficulties after relocating to the Philippines earlier this year.

Thomas lived in a cliffside property near the US border in Rosarito, Mexico, before relocating to the Asian country in search of a fresh start alongside his son and Meghan's half-brother, Thomas Jr.

He was initially at a 3-star hotel when he landed in the country, but he recently moved into a $670-per-month high-rise apartment in the densely populated island of Cebu.

However, things have seemingly not picked up well for him with sources saying he has been "struggling" to get acclimated to the climate, language, and lifestyle over there.

"Thomas and his son took the plunge and moved to Southeast Asia," a source told the New York Post. "It's been hard, but they have each other."

The insider added that the father and son "only recently" moved into their new abode.

The island of Cebu is known for its "brutal" weather conditions with temperatures ranging from 80 to 100 degrees and humidity levels often reaching 90%.

The local terrain also seems to be an issue for Thomas as he's resorted to the help of a cane to navigate the area's uneven roads.

"There are only two types of weather in Cebu: hot and humid, and hot and humid and raining. It's brutal even for men half his age, but it's still sad to see him looking as though he's struggling," a source told The Mirror last month.

The source went on: "Thomas and his son only recently moved into the property and they are still finding their feet in Cebu after the big move abroad, but they're here together and are firmly supporting each other."

Thomas' condition is a far cry from that of his estranged daughter Meghan, who lives in Montecito, California, with her husband, Prince Harry, as well as their children, Prince Archie, and Princess Lilibet.

Their father-daughter relationship has remained non-existent as they fell out shortly before Meghan's wedding to Harry in 2018. Things are seemingly so bad between them that Thomas is yet to see the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's children despite making several pleas to.

Amid several health emergencies in 2023, he made a "deathbed plea" to his daughter in a TV documentary, asking how he could "fix" their broken bond. However, his constant pleas have been seemingly ignored.

"I've never been one for birthdays, but I know the one person I most want to hear from, Meghan, won't be in touch," he told the Daily Mail before his 80th birthday last year. "I would love to meet my grandchildren, but I would be happy with a photograph at this stage."

"They have two grandpas who want to see them, one of whom is the King of England," he said. "I never in my 80 years thought I'd be in the same boat as the king."

Explaining his decision to relocate to the Philippines, Thomas claimed he wasn't "running away" but was looking to escape the "awful drama" he's been wrapped up in relating to his daughter. He claimed that he made the move in a desperate bid to have a "fresh start."

"I am ready for a change," he told the Daily Mail at the time. "I have felt stuck in a rut for some time, and I am ready to meet new people and experience kindness."

"I'm not running away. I am going in search of a more positive life," he said of his move in January. "Every day, I see something about Meghan. I wish her no ill will."

"My dream is that one day I could bring my whole family together, like a 'normal family,'" he added.

The "Suits" actress initially released a statement begging her father to stop exploiting her relationship with the Royal family.

This came after Thomas bailed on attending her wedding to Harry, following the revelation that he had faked photos of himself preparing for the nuptials for the paparazzi. Due to this, Meghan, in a letter, accused her father of using her marriage to Prince Harry to gain money and fame.

She also begged Thomas to consider the "pain" he was causing her. The letter read, per People magazine, "...Please stop exploiting my relationship with my husband … I realize you are so far down this rabbit hole that you feel (or may feel) there's no way out, but if you take a moment to pause, I think you'll see that being able to live with a clear conscience is more valuable than any payment in the world."