Meghan Markle's reunion with Thomas Markle remains unclear, as a source has claimed it is "too soon to say" if one will take place.
Recent gestures of outreach from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex towards their estranged fathers are not expected to result in reconciliation, according to new reports.
Meghan, 44, sent correspondence to Thomas Markle as he recovered from leg amputation surgery at a hospital in Cebu, Philippines.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry met with King Charles for the first time in two years back in September.
Meghan reunion with Thomas Markle remains unclear as source claims it's 'too soon to say'
|GETTY / GB NEWS
Yet as the festive period approaches, there is understood to be scant optimism that either development will lead to broader family healing, according to the Times.
A spokesman for the Sussexes declined to comment when approached by GB News.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to, once again, spend Christmas away from Sandringham, marking their seventh consecutive year apart from the royal household during the holidays.
Meghan chose to write rather than telephone her 81-year-old father, concerned that any conversation would be passed directly to tabloid newspapers.
Harry and Meghan live in Montecito, California in the US | GETTYA source close to Meghan indicated she no longer possesses his contact number.
However, Mr Markle has maintained he kept the same number for years, hoping she might reach out.
In his interview with the Mail on Sunday, Thomas Markle stated: "Of course I want to speak to her, but I am not sure if these are the right circumstances."
The distance between father and daughter was highlighted by his choice of bedside visitor following the life-saving operation — not Meghan, but a journalist from the Daily Mail.
Prince Harry has accused the Daily Mail publisher of illegal activity, which it denies
| GETTYA spokesman for the Duchess of Sussex told GB News at the time: "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.
"With the support of reliable and trusted contacts, her correspondence is now safely in his hands."
A Daily Mail Group media spokesman responded: “When Thomas Markle was taken ill in the Philippines he contacted Caroline Graham and asked her to travel from LA to be with him.
"As well as being a journalist, Caroline has been friends with Mr Markle since 2018. She has been with Mr Markle in hospital every day, providing him with care and support.
Thomas Markle has received a letter from her daughter, GB News understands | ITV"As soon as Mr Markle gave consent for his contact details, the name of his hospital and his room number to be provided to his daughter’s spokesman, Caroline shared them.
"It is entirely untrue that each interaction has been broadcast, and the suggestion that Caroline has breached ethical boundaries is demonstrably false and vehemently denied."
The situation has drawn renewed attention to Thomas Markle’s 2018 decision to share a private letter from his daughter with the very journalist who sat at his Philippine hospital bedside.
The former Hollywood lighting director has faced serious health emergencies before — suffering two heart attacks in 2018 and a stroke in 2022 that left him relearning to speak — and Meghan has not publicly acknowledged those health crises.