Thomas Markle Sr., Meghan Markle’s estranged father, has officially relocated over 7,000 miles away from the Duchess of Sussex and her family.
Now 80 years old, Thomas has swapped his longtime home in Rosarito, Mexico for a £500-a-month apartment on the island of Cebu in the Philippines, and insiders say it’s all about finding peace in his later years.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, the retired Hollywood lighting director said he was ready for a "change" after feeling "stuck in a rut" for years.
“At 80, it is time to go somewhere where the people are lovely and I can enjoy a quieter, friendlier existence,” he shared.
“In South East Asia the medical care is good, you can live reasonably cheaply, the people are kind and respect older people, and the food is healthy. Mostly I just want peace. At 80, none of us know how long we have left. I want whatever time I have to be peaceful with none of the awful drama of recent years.”
The move comes as Thomas is now being cared for by his son, and Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., amid heightened public interest in the Markle family.
Locals have already spotted Thomas Sr. navigating the uneven streets near his new home using a walking stick.
Before this major move, Thomas Sr. had spent the last decade living in a beachfront bungalow just 250 miles away from Meghan and Prince Harry’s Montecito mansion, though the rift between him and his daughter kept them worlds apart.
Adding even more tension to the situation, Thomas Jr. is preparing to release a bombshell tell-all book about Meghan’s early life. Speaking to The Mirror, the 58-year-old said: “When my book is finished, ooh it'll be swooped up real quick cause it's getting there. I'm working on it. It's coming out. It's gonna be good.”
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