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.
The 60-year-old took to the social media platform X 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 Markle's estranged father 'stuck in Philippines building after massive earthquake'
|SKY NEWS / GETTY
A powerful 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck the Philippines earlier today. It struck near the Eastern Visayas region, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
People have been urged to stay away from the beach and move further inland amid fears of aftershocks.
There was no tsunami threat after the earthquake, which had a shallow epicentre of around 11km, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre.
Thomas lives in Rosarito, Mexico, a coastal town just south of Tijuana in Baja California - the opposite side of the Pacific Ocean from the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines.
Thomas Markle is an Emmy-winning lighting director | ITVIt is not clear why Thomas was staying in the Philippines at the time when the earthquake struck.
He moved to Mexico after retiring from his work as a Hollywood lighting director, and he has been based in Rosarito for many 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 subsequently walked down part of the aisle by then-Prince Charles, her father-in-law.
Samantha Markle and Meghan Markle pictured at the former's graduation | X / SAMANTHA MARKLEIn 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 interviews, including her 2021 Oprah Winfrey conversation, she said she felt betrayed by his decision to speak to the press and share private communications.
Meanwhile, 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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Samantha Markle lives in the US and takes care of her father Thomas Markle | GB NEWSSamantha, who lives in Florida, is understood to care for her ailing father, with the help of her brother, Thomas Markle Jr.
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.