Meghan Markle's father Thomas Markle is unable to speak and will have to learn again after his health scare.
The retired Hollywood lighting director, 77, was rushed to hospital last week with a suspected stroke, and his daughter Samantha Markle appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain today to discuss her father's ailing health.
She revealed he is doing better but has a long road of recovery to go yet, as she urged her half-sister Meghan to get back in touch with her father. It is believed the pair haven't spoken for several years after a family rift, but Thomas has made multiple pleas.
Speaking on the ITV breakfast show, she said: "I think he feels blessed to be alive and he's doing well, he's really doing well.
"He can't speak but his language comprehension is perfect, he understands and he can text and communicate that way. He's feeling better every day, so all things considering, two heart attacks, a pandemic and all this, he's coping remarkably well."
However, she admitted it could take some time for Thomas to get better.
"Learning to speak again could take six months to a year. Unlike a child who has to learn to speak and understand words and remember them and form associations, an adult doesn't have to do that," she added.
"So all he has to do now, because he understands the words perfectly, is he has to train his mouth and his tongue to say the words. So six months to a year realistically. He's very patient and he feels very strong about it, and he has a lot of love and support around him."
It comes after sources claimed to The Mirror that Meghan is keen to get in touch, but doesn't want Samantha and Thomas Jr. involved.
A source 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 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."
In her interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan spoke of a "betrayal" by her father, whilst things are said to have worsened between the father and daughter when a private letter penned by the Duchess of Sussex was shared with the press.
