Thomas Markle received a letter from his estranged daughter, Meghan Markle, in December 2023 shortly after undergoing a leg amputation at the University of Cebu Medical Center in the Philippines. The letter, delivered in person by two female hospital representatives, reportedly contained a serious accusation from Meghan, alleging that Thomas had abused young girls, and stating that he would not be permitted to meet his grandchildren, Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5.

According to an individual present at the time, Thomas Markle was in a fragile state, recently subjected to major surgery and heavily medicated, when hospital president Candice Gotianuy and lawyer Wendy Goipeng-Dee arrived unannounced to deliver the sealed letter. They requested that Mr. Markle sign a document allowing them to film the handover as evidence that the letter was received. Despite the unusual circumstances, he complied while seated on his hospital bed.

The letter was sealed and presented with formality, emphasizing its importance. After initially hesitating for several hours due to fear of its contents, Mr. Markle eventually read the letter but chose not to discuss it at the time. He stored it away in a wardrobe and did not offer any details about what was written.

Following recent media reports about the letter’s explosive allegations, Thomas Markle, now residing at a rehabilitation center in Florida, spoke about the matter. Since his return to the United States in May to continue medical treatment, he has been diagnosed with dementia. He authorized the publication of footage from the hospital visit and confirmed he has only a vague memory of receiving the letter and no recollection of its exact contents.

When asked directly about the allegation of child abuse reportedly made by Meghan, Thomas Markle emphatically denied being a pedophile or having ever harmed a child. He stated, "If Meghan says that’s what she wrote, then she’s probably right," but cited his illness and memory problems as reasons for his lack of recall. He also said he does not know the current whereabouts of the letter.

The dispute over the letter’s contents adds another layer to the already complex and public family tensions between Meghan Markle and her father, which have been part of a broader narrative about their estrangement for several years. The serious nature of the claims and Thomas Markle’s health condition suggest this issue will continue to attract attention as details emerge.