In one of the most surreal and emotional accounts involving Meghan Markle’s estranged father, Daily Mail journalist Caroline Graham shared the story of riding out a 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Cebu, Philippines — inside Thomas Markle’s 19th-floor apartment. The 81-year-old former Hollywood lighting director, who has lived in the Philippines since January with his son Tom Jr., refused to flee the swaying tower, joking that he was “too old to run down 19 flights” and preferred to “ride it out.”
As the building rocked and neighbors screamed in panic, Markle’s calm, old-school humor filled the room. “Welcome to the Philippines,” he quipped, sipping PG Tips tea as thunder cracked outside. “You do realize this quake cost me a fortune to arrange — even the light show.” But beneath the laughter, he revealed a heartbreaking thought: “If we die tonight, do you think Meghan will come to my funeral?”
Markle has been estranged from his daughter since her 2018 royal wedding, which he missed after suffering heart attacks. He admitted to Graham that his decision to pose for staged paparazzi photos before the wedding — hoping to improve his image after months of harassment — was “a terrible mistake” that destroyed their relationship. “I’ve been paying for it ever since,” he said quietly.
Despite their rift, Markle expressed enduring love for Meghan and deep longing to meet his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet. “I’d love to see my grandkids. There are two grandfathers who would both love to see those kids. One happens to be the King of England,” he said wistfully. “I wonder if they have the Markle nose.”
Life in Cebu, he insists, has brought him peace. He and Tom Jr. live modestly in a new high-rise complex with friendly neighbors, low rent, and sunshine — a world away from the chaos of his old California life. “I love the Filipino people,” he said. “They’re so kind. You can live a good life here on not much money.”
Still, moments like the earthquake remind him of his mortality. “I’m 81 — Markle men rarely live past 80,” he reflected. “If I die and Meg and I are still estranged, will she care? Will she show up to my funeral?”
It was a question that hung in the air — unanswered, heavy with love, regret, and the ache of a father who just wants his daughter back
Leave a Reply