A major royal commentator has declared that the Duchess of Sussex faces a critical public relations test and must urgently reach out to her ailing father, Thomas Markle Sr., as he faces a serious health crisis. The call comes amid a turbulent week for Prince Harry and Meghan, marked by a controversial television appearance and renewed scrutiny over their family estrangements.
The urgent advice follows shocking reports from the Philippines that Thomas Markle Sr. has been hospitalized in intensive care and may have undergone a leg amputation. His son, Thomas Markle Jr., has publicly confirmed the grave situation, placing intense focus on the Duchess’s silence.
Katie Nicholl, Vanity Fair’s royal correspondent, stated unequivocally that a gesture from Meghan is not only a personal imperative but a strategic necessity. “I just think it would do them a huge amount of good actually universally if they were to reach out at this stage,” Nicholl said during a panel discussion on the Royal Exclusive program. She argued such an action would demonstrate the compassion and empathy the couple frequently champion.
The panel, which included royal experts Richard Palmer and Kinsey Schofield, largely concurred that a private reconciliation attempt is overdue. Palmer emphasized the universal nature of family rifts, suggesting that building bridges, even if the relationship is never fully repaired, is a fundamental step most people ultimately take.
This familial crisis unfolds against a backdrop of difficult publicity for the Sussexes. Prince Harry’s recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has been criticized as a significant misstep. Schofield, speaking from Los Angeles, argued the segment “did not go down well,” criticizing Harry’s “comedic timing” and labeling a joke about former President Donald Trump as “politically dangerous” and alienating.
The timing of the comedy appearance, juxtaposed with the news of her father’s hospitalization, has sparked particular criticism. Schofield noted that instead of sharing clips of Harry’s comedic skit on social media, Meghan “could have sat back and made a phone call or sent a text message to confirm that her father was in good health.”
The panel drew a direct contrast with Prince Harry’s swift transatlantic flight to see King Charles following the monarch’s cancer diagnosis earlier this year. That very public display of familial concern has not been mirrored in this instance, leading to questions about the Duchess’s perceived callousness.
Nicholl proposed the most tactful path forward would be a private overture. “The smart move would be to do something privately… and then say to the family, look, it’s up to you if you want to tell the world that Meghan’s been in touch… That would be, I think, quite a classy thing to do,” she advised.
The discussion also turned to the couple’s professional endeavors, with questions raised about the future of Meghan’s Netflix series following a holiday special. While Richard Palmer admitted to enjoying the show’s festive concept, Schofield suggested Meghan may be pivoting toward short-form content, questioning the long-term viability of such polished productions.
Meanwhile, the royal family faces its own simmering crisis regarding property. A Public Accounts Committee report has expanded its scrutiny beyond the Duke of York’s residence at Royal Lodge to examine the subsidized housing arrangements of other working royals, including the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
This “Pandora’s box,” as Nicholl described it, threatens to become a major headache for King Charles, linking the monarchy’s privilege to a national cost-of-living crisis. The panel agreed the issue of “peppercorn” rents for vast estates will likely fuel public and political debate well into the new year.
As the holiday season approaches, the contrast between the two royal couples was starkly highlighted. The Princess of Wales garnered widespread praise for her poised appearance at a glittering Windsor Castle state banquet, an event described as exuding confidence in the monarchy’s future.
In contrast, Meghan’s carefully produced holiday special was noted for its lack of extended family presence. With her father fighting for his health an ocean away, the pressure for a gesture of reconciliation is mounting. Experts conclude that a single, private phone call could achieve more positive public sentiment than any orchestrated media campaign, transforming a narrative of estrangement into one of humanity and healing.
The world now watches to see if the Duchess will take what is being framed as her most crucial public relations decision yet—one that reaches beyond headlines and into the fraught, private realm of family. The clock is ticking, and her next move will speak volumes.
