Thomas Markle, the estranged father of the Duchess of Sussex, says he learned from a CNN news report that Meghan, Prince Harry and their children Archie and Lilibet are moving back to the UK, rather than hearing it from his daughter directly. The 82-year-old, who is recovering after having his left leg amputated below the knee, says he feels hurt that Meghan has not reached out despite his hospitalisation, and fears he will now never get the chance to meet grandchildren he has never met.

Mr Markle underwent the amputation in December after developing a blood clot while living in the Philippines, and later returned to the US for further treatment; he is currently in a rehabilitation centre. He has had no contact with Meghan since he posed for staged paparazzi photos ahead of her 2018 wedding, a rift that has left him without any relationship with Harry or his grandchildren, Archie, seven, and five-year-old Lilibet. Despite the estrangement, he insisted he will "never stop loving" his daughter, while his other daughter, Samantha, said she was proud of his recovery progress.