He was rumoured to be caught up in the disaster

homas Markle, father of Meghan Markle, has reportedly made a heartbreaking statement about his funeral, following the recent earthquake in the Philippines.

A writer, who claims to have been with Thomas at the time the quake hit, has revealed a devastating conversation she had with the 81-year-old as the disaster took place.
Thomas Markle was in the Philippines when the earthquake hit (Credit: 60 Minutes/YouTube)

Thomas Markle Philippines earthquake

Last Tuesday (September 30), a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Cebu Island, at around 22:00 local time. At least 70 people are believed to have died and hundreds injured.

A “state of calamity” was declared. Meghan’s sister Samantha also took to social media to express her concern for their father.

“My father is stuck on the 19th floor of a building in the Philippines after a massive earthquake,” Samantha wrote on her verified X account, adding: “He can’t walk and he is trapped.”

However, hours later, Thomas himself appeared to shut down his daughter’s claims.

“The epicenter was 100 miles from here,” he said. “I’m currently sitting on the couch in my hotel room, with my feet kicked up and watching Charlie Chan movies. I’m quite comfortable.”

‘Do you think Meghan will come to my funeral?’

Writing for the Daily Mail, journalist Caroline Graham claimed she was with Thomas in the Philippines at the time the earthquake hit.

Caroline has explained what really happened. She also revealed a heartbreaking question Thomas reportedly asked her about his daughter.

If I die and Meg and I are estranged, will she care?

She claimed that contrary to what Samantha had said, Thomas had not been stuck, but had made the decision himself to “stay put”.

“Tom’s son, Tom Jr, who lives in the flat next door, said: ‘Dad, if you walk down 19 floors at some point you are going to have to walk back up 19 floors,’” Caroline wrote.
Meghan Markle is estranged from her father, Thomas Markle (Credit: Cover Images)
She also recalled that the disaster triggered the 81-year-old to become reflective.

“‘If we die tonight, do you think Meghan will come to my funeral?’ he asked,” Caroline recounted. “Then, with a chuckle, he added: ‘Will I get a better funeral because my son-in-law is fifth in line to the throne?’”

The topic appeared to be playing on his mind.

Caroline claims he later told her: “I’m not getting any younger. When things happen like it did this week with the earthquake, it makes me think about my own mortality, which I do a lot these days. I’m 81, Markle men never usually make it past 80. If I die and Meg and I are estranged, will she care? Will she show up to my funeral?’”

He also apparently expressed a desire to finally meet his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet.