ITV presenter Lorraine Kelly has publicly questioned the sincerity of Meghan Markle's attempts to reach out to her father, Thomas Markle, who is recovering from a leg amputation in hospital. The Duchess of Sussex's claims of contact have been met with scepticism during a segment on Kelly's popular daytime show.
Daytime TV Dig Over Family Rift
During a recent broadcast of her ITV programme, the 66-year-old host discussed the situation with a correspondent reporting live from outside Buckingham Palace. The reporter suggested that the Duchess's outreach was primarily a tactic to avoid negative publicity, a sentiment Kelly appeared to endorse.
With a clear expression of disapproval, Lorraine Kelly pulled a face before stating: "Yeah that's very true. I mean the press have tracked him down, she could always give them a call. I don't know if that will happen, though." This on-air comment has intensified scrutiny of the long-running estrangement within the Markle family.
A History of Estrangement and Recent Claims
The 44-year-old wife of Prince Harry has not spoken directly to her father since 2018. Despite her insistence that she tried to send him a message as he recuperates in a hospital in the Philippines, reports indicate she has deleted his phone number and made no concrete plans for a visit.
According to The Sunday Times, the mother-of-two was hesitant to call the hospital directly, fearing the conversation might be intercepted. This concern was reportedly due to the presence of a Daily Mail reporter at her father's bedside, a situation her spokesperson later confirmed.
Contact Confirmed Amid Ethical Concerns
On Wednesday 10 December, a representative for Meghan Markle confirmed that direct contact had finally been established. The statement highlighted the difficulties caused by media intrusion, saying: "Given that a Daily Mail reporter has remained at her father's bedside throughout, broadcasting each interaction and breaching clear ethical boundaries, it has been exceedingly difficult for the Duchess to contact her father privately, despite her efforts over the past several days."
The statement concluded: "With the support of reliable and trusted contacts, her correspondence is now safely in his hands."
From his hospital bed, Thomas Markle has continued to express a desire for reconciliation. Speaking to a friend, he revealed: "Of course I want to speak to her (Meghan) but I am not sure if these are the right circumstances. I've always said I am open to reconciling with my daughter. I have never stopped loving her. I don't want to die estranged from Meghan. I want to meet my grandkids. It might be nice to meet her husband too."
