Meghan Markle will need two things before any meeting to heal the rift with her hospital-stricken dad, according to an expert. The Duchess of Sussex has been estranged from her father, Thomas since 2018 when she married Prince Harry after he was caught staging paparazzi photos in the run-up to the big day.

However, it has emerged that Meghan has written a letter to her father, which has been delivered to him, after he was rushed to hospital where he lives in the Philippines. According to reports, he has been forced to undergo a leg amputation after suffering a serious blood clot and later gave an interview to a newspaper where he said he does not want to die distanced from his daughter, and wishes to meet Meghan’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, and herhusband, Harry.

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But despite the pair making initial contact, royal expert Jennie Bond believes Meghan will be wary of any potential reunion. The former BBC royal correspondent told the Mirror : "As I have often said, families are complicated. None of us truly knows what has gone on between Meghan and her father, but it is a very sad situation when a daughter cannot simply pick up the phone to her dad.

"It seems she has now contacted him by letter, and I’m sure that must be a great comfort to him as he lies in his hospital bed.

"But the Philippines is a long way away from Montecito. And, at the moment, it seems unlikely that Meghan is about to jump on a plane.

"She will also be wary because it seems that her father and brother are intent on giving their side of the story. So there would have to be a lot of trust and reassurance before any meeting.

"I’m sure Harry will support his wife in whatever she chooses to do about her relationship with her father. It would be nice to think he could meet his grandchildren – and indeed his son-in-law – before it is too late, and be reconciled with the daughter he loves."

Mr Markle has seemingly suffered a spate of health issues over recent years, including two heart attacks and a stroke that saw him needing speech therapy.

He was rushed to hospital earlier this month in the Philippines as his health took a worrying turn. The pensioner had to endure gruelling surgery to have his leg amputated, which resulted in his son Thomas Junior - Meghan's half-brother - to plead with her to "reach out" and show "compassion".

As the delicate situation unravels behind the scenes, family counselling expert Dr Jane Halsall also told the Mirror just how tough these types of strained relationships can be, especially when they are playing out on the public stage.

The chartered counselling psychologist explained that for adults like Meghan who are estranged from their parents, it can be challenging to navigate the delicate balance between self-protection and their fundamental care and concern for their parent, particularly if they become unwell, as Thomas has.

"Estrangement between adult children and parents is emotionally painful, often arising from boundary violations or disappointment," the expert explained. "Depending on the dynamics, adult children may worry for their parent, while needing to protect themselves, which leads to them experiencing both grief and ambivalence."