Thomas Markle, 80, is famously estranged from his daughter Meghan, and has not spoken to her since before her Royal wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018

Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, has disclosed his plans to relocate across the globe in an attempt to escape the “awful drama” associated with being the Duchess’ dad.

The 80-year-old former film director currently resides in a secluded cliffside house in Mexico, but he is reportedly already beginning to dispose of unwanted items as he prepares for a “fresh start” overseas. He is notably estranged from his eldest daughter Meghan, his only child with second wife Doria Ragland, and they haven’t communicated since before her Royal wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018.

This news comes as Meghan gears up for the launch of her new Netflix show featuring a host of celebrities, including a special appearance by her husband. In explaining his decision to move abroad at the age of 80, Thomas told MailOnline: “I am ready for a change. I have felt stuck in a rut for some time and I am ready to meet new people and experience kindness.”

He further expressed his desire to live in a more “peaceful” environment devoid of the “awful drama of recent years.” Thomas confessed that he is still uncertain about his future location, but he has considered south-east Asia as a potential destination due to his past travels there, describing it as a “place of culture and beauty.” He has chosen not to renew his lease on his rented property near the US border in Rosarito, Mexico, and now hopes to embark on this journey with his son Tom Jr, 58, who is Meghan’s half-brother.

Thomas said he is considering moving to south-east Asia ( 
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Thomas Markle has endured a spate of health setbacks in recent years, surviving two heart attacks just before Meghan’s 2018 Royal wedding to Prince Harry, and a stroke in May 2022 that sent him to a Mexican hospital. Post-stroke, Thomas is grappling with speech difficulties, back pain, and knee issues.

Before Meghan’s high-profile marriage, a rift formed between her and Thomas after he was accused of staging photos for the paparazzi. Sadly, Thomas has yet to meet his Royal grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet, who reside with Meghan and Harry approximately 250 miles away in Montecito. And now that he is relocating much further way, the chances that he will are becoming more slim.

In a poignant 2021 talk with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan expressed her sorrow over her current relationship with her parent, saying: “I grieve a lot… I’ve lost my father.”

Set for a Netflix debut on Wednesday, January 15, ‘With Love, Meghan’, the Duchess of Sussex’s latest venture, will showcase Meghan amid warm moments with Harry in a sneak peek of the domestic-themed series. Celebrity faces and culinary experts will join her as she divulges secrets of cooking, gardening, and playing the perfect hostess.