The Duchess of Sussex is set to finally heal the bitter four-year rift with her ailing father Thomas.
Meghan, 40, is understood to have reached out to her dad’s camp after it emerged he is out of hospital recovering from a stroke.
The retired Hollywood lighting director, 77, said: “I feel hugely grateful and know how lucky I am to be alive. I want to thank everyone, especially the wonderful doctors and nurses who saved my life.
“I have been deeply moved by loving messages I’ve received from all over the world. I can’t speak right now, but I am working hard and will thank people properly when I can.”
Writing on a whiteboard with a pen, he said: “I wanted to come to pay my respects to the Queen. I wish her a happy Jubilee and many more years.”
The severe stroke was caused by a blood clot on the right side of Mr Markle’s brain. He is believed to be in hospital in San Diego, a three-hour drive from Meghan and Harry’s California mansion.
Had his condition worsened, Meghan’s presence at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations could have been in question – or she may have had to cut short her UK trip to be at his side.
She, husband Prince Harry, 37, and their children arrive in the UK this week. An insider said: “Despite their estrangement, Meghan is concerned. She wants to know if there is any way to contact her father privately, without other family knowing about it or having to get involved.”
Meghan is said to be concerned contacting her father will mean having to communicate with her half-siblings Thomas Jr, 55, and Samantha.
Sam, 57 – who has launched a defamation legal case against Meghan – has remained home in Florida but may soon fly out to be with their dad.
Thomas Jr was believed to have been with his dad in hospital.
Our source said: “Meghan can’t contact her half-siblings because she believes they have their own agendas.
“If she can contact their dad, she wants it to be totally private. It won’t involve Netflix, it won’t involve any photographs and it must not involve any tip-offs to the paparazzi.”
Meghan’s relationship with her father crumbled after he posed for paparazzi pics being measured for his suit ahead of her 2018 wedding.
It caused a huge stink and he missed the nuptials. The official reason was given as a heart attack – one of two he has suffered. Meghan’s mum Doria Ragland was at the wedding and her father-in-law Prince Charles walked her up the aisle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
Thomas later claimed Meghan had not responded to his attempts to contact her.
He also took a swipe at Harry after a tense phone call. In her interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan spoke of a “betrayal” by her father. The rift grew deeper when details of a letter Meghan sent to her father ended up in the press, leading to a court battle over copyright and privacy.
Thomas has never met Harry or his grandchildren Archie, three, and Lilibet, who is one next Saturday.
Meghan referred to her father when talking about miscarriage and a sense of loss.
She said: “I grieve a lot. I mean, I’ve lost my father. I lost a baby. But I’m still standing.”
Meghan’s team was contacted for comment.
