According to Meghan Markle’s half -sister Samantha, their dad Thomas, who is estranged from the Duchess, has been caught up in an earthquake that his struck the Philippines, where he now lives
Meghan Markle’s half-sister has claimed their dad Thomas was left ‘trapped’ after a massive earthquake struck his new home.
Thomas, 80, who is estranged from the Duchess of Sussex, moved to the Philippines earlier this year, where he is being cared for by Meghan’s half-brother, Tom.
Last night, a 6.9 magnitude quake struck the province of Cebu – the same area Thomas lives in. And now Meghan’s half-sister Samantha, who has been highly critical of the Duchess, has claimed that the quake left their father trapped in his high-rise tower block apartment and unable to get out.
Taking to X, she wrote: “My father is stuck on the 19th floor of a building in the Philippines after a massive earthquake and he can’t walk and he is trapped.”
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She later added: “I wish to extend our deep gratitude to everyone expressing concern about my father. Thank you.
“As of today he is OK , and making plans to get out of that building. They seem to be safe for now, and hopefully there will be no serious aftershocks. Provisions are being made so that he won’t be trapped in a similar situation again. God bless and stay safe everyone!”
Thomas recently moved to the densely populated island of Cebu, more than 7,000 miles away from Meghan, 44, Prince Harry, 41, and his grandkids Archie and Lilibet.
Exclusive pictures from earlier this year showed the former Hollywood lighting director sitting alone while resting in blistering heat outside a supermarket near his new home.
Thomas is said to have had two heart attacks and a stroke in recent years and now must deal with the tropical island’s punishing heat.
The regional Emmy award-winner was seen using a walking stick to help him get around the area’s uneven roads and paths, many of which are affected by constant traffic and the unforgiving climate.
Harry has never met his father-in-law, but did speak to him on the phone before he married Meghan in May 2018 and asked for his daughter’s hand in marriage.
Thomas was due to walk the former Suits actress down the aisle at the Windsor Castle ceremony, but told how he was forced to pull out on doctors’ orders after two heart attacks led to his being hospitalised and having two stents inserted days before the ceremony.
Instead of being at the wedding – which was seen by an estimated two billion viewers worldwide – he watched it in an Airbnb after being discharged from hospital.
The medical drama came after Thomas Snr was embroiled in a row after appearing in staged paparazzi photographs before the ceremony. He has told pals his decision to seek a new life abroad in the Philippines was because he was seeking “peace” and “kinder people”.
He said: “At 80 it is time to go somewhere where the people are lovely and I can enjoy a quieter, friendlier existence. In South East Asia the medical care is good, you can live reasonably cheaply, the people are kind and respect older people and the food is healthy.
“Mostly I just want peace. At 80, none of us know how long we have left. I want whatever time I have to be peaceful with none of the awful drama of recent years.”