Thomas Markle has been estranged from his daughter Meghan Markle for years, with the pair rarely speaking after a series of falling outs following her engagement to Prince Harry in 2017
Thomas Markle is fighting for his life in hospital after falling ill at his home in the Philippines on Tuesday. The 81-year-old was transferred to an intensive care unit after having surgery on Wednesday and is reportedly undergoing a leg amputation to remove a blood clot.
The Duchess of Sussex, 44, has struggled with an ongoing rift with her father after he openly spoke out against her following her engagement and wedding to Prince Harry. The former Emmy-winning director of photography has battled declining health in recent years, and earlier this year moved from Mexico to the Philippines. To this day he hasn’t met his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet, who live in the US with their parents. Here, we take a look at Thomas’s life now.
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Where does Thomas live?
Thomas had lived in a modest yellow property overlooking the coastline in Rosarito, Mexico – 250 miles along the shore from his daughter Meghan, who inhabits a 16-bedroom estate in Montecito, California. Thousands of American expatriates call the unpretentious coastal community home, situated just ten miles south of the US frontier.
But earlier this year it was revealed he had moved to a £500-a-month high-rise apartment on the island of Cebu in the Philippines, where he is being looked after by his son, Thomas Markle Jnr.
What are his finances?
Thomas, who secured multiple Emmy accolades for his television work, was raised in Pennsylvania and discovered his love for lighting whilst assisting with theatrical productions during secondary school. He subsequently collaborated with Hollywood’s elite, including screen legend Elizabeth Taylor.
As of late 2025, reports on Thomas Markle’s net worth are conflicting. While some sources estimate his net worth to be around £1.4 million (approx. $1.7 million), primarily tied to the potential value of property he reportedly still owns in Los Feliz, California, his actual day-to-day financial situation appears much more modest.
What about his wellbeing?
Thomas experienced two heart attacks just before Meghan’s wedding to Harry in 2018. In May 2022, he suffered a stroke and was initially hospitalised in Mexico before being transferred back to the US for further medical treatment.
The stroke has left the former lighting director with speech difficulties, and he also struggles with a bad back and an unstable knee. He has confessed that he didn’t expect to live to see his 80th birthday, as his own father, Meghan’s paternal grandfather, passed away at the age of 61.
Discussing his recent health battle, his son Thomas Jr. said: “I took dad to a hospital close to our home and they did various scans and the doctors said his life was in imminent danger.
“I would ask everyone around the world to keep him in their thoughts. My only wish is that Meghan shows my father some compassion. He is literally fighting for his life.”
Is he currently in a relationship?
It is believed that Thomas is not currently in a relationship. He has been divorced twice, first from his wife Rosalyn and then from his second wife Doria Ragland.
He met Meghan’s mother when she was working as a secretary at the studio where he was a lighting director on popular shows like General Hospital and Married With Children.
Despite their split in 1987, the couple maintained a friendly relationship, with Thomas retiring to Mexico and visiting Doria, now 67, during his trips back to Los Angeles.
What is his current relationship with Meghan?
Thomas became estranged from his daughter leading up to her wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018, after he was caught selling photos to the paparazzi. He was unable to walk her down the aisle on her big day due to suffering two heart attacks, resulting in Harry’s father Charles stepping in to fulfil this role.
Thomas has not had contact with his daughter since 2018 and he has never met his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. In a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan revealed “I grieve a lot… I’ve lost my father”.
Does Thomas desire reconciliation?
“I would love to meet my grandchildren but I would be content with a photograph at this point,” Thomas admitted. He has expressed disappointment that Harry has never made the effort to meet him, stating: “He has the resources to fly around the world – and does… What man gets married without meeting his wife’s father?”.
The retiree has also shown empathy for King Charles, who equally has a strained relationship with his youngest son.
What about his relationship with his other children?
Thomas has two other children, Meghan’s half-siblings. These include Thomas Markle Jr, 59, a father-of-two residing in Oregon, and Samantha Markle, 61, a mother-of-three living in Florida.
Samantha once stated on an Australian breakfast show: “I’m hoping that she will resolve things with our father, because it’s only called for. That needs to be repaired.”
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