Meghan Markle's estranged father, Thomas Markle, agonised over sending her a congratulatory message after her Daytime Emmy nomination but ultimately decided against it, fearing she would "ghost him again," a close friend told the Sunday Express.
The Duchess of Sussex is a first-time nominee in the Outstanding Lifestyle Series category for her Netflix show With Love, Meghan, which was cancelled after two seasons earlier this year. She is expected to attend the October 30 ceremony at the Hollywood Palladium Theatre with her husband, Prince Harry.
A bittersweet triumph
Should Meghan win her first major professional trophy, it would be "incredibly bittersweet" for her 81-year-old father, the friend said. "Like any dad, he's enormously proud that Meghan is following in his footsteps," the friend added. "Despite the deep divide between them, he dearly wants her to succeed and would love to see her win."
The friend revealed that invitations had already gone out to nominees and their guests, and as expected, Thomas was not among them. "He's agonised about sending Meghan a message congratulating her on her nomination. But in end, he didn't because I don't think he wanted to set himself up for the likelihood that she would simply ghost him again."
A rare father-daughter record
If Meghan wins, she and her father would become only the second father-daughter duo in more than half a century to both win a Daytime Emmy. Thomas, a retired Hollywood lighting director, won two Daytime Emmys, in 1982 and 2011, for his work on General Hospital. Meghan herself appeared in two episodes of the soap in 2001 before finding fame on Suits.
The only other father-daughter pair to achieve this feat in the 53-year history of the event were Dr. Mehmet Oz and his daughter Daphne Oz, who won a shared award in 2015. Mr. Markle's friend said he showed him an online photo of Dr. Oz joining Daphne on stage, and "I remember the sad look on his face because he obviously knows that will never happen with him and his daughter."
Watching from afar
Although the Daytime Emmys ceremony does not air live on broadcast TV in America, Mr. Markle told his friend he will watch Meghan's bid for glory via the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' streaming app online. He is currently in America, having returned three months ago from the Philippines, where he had his left leg amputated below the knee due to a serious blood clot. He is undergoing intense physical therapy and having a prosthetic leg fitted.
Despite his health struggles, Mr. Markle's family confirmed he has fallen in love again with Rio Caneda, a Filipina nurse who cared for him after his surgery. "He believes he's blessed to be with Rio," his friend said. "But even she can't mend his heartbreak over his relationship with Meghan and the fact that even if she does land her award, he'll never get to share that or any other magical family moment with her again."
