Thomas Markle and Meghan's half-brother tried for fresh start in Philippines after years of furious bust-ups

For years the relationship was one of disappointment, estrangement and bitter recriminations.

Thomas Markle repeatedly tried to put his troubled son, Tom Jnr, on the right track - only to see his efforts end in frustration, according to his daughter Samantha, 61, Tom Jnr's older sister.

Now father and son are locked in an extraordinary feud over horrific child sex abuse allegations even though they moved to the Philippines together last year for a 'fresh start.'

So what went wrong?

Samantha says her brother dropped out of school at 14 and became more interested in partying than a career. She said: 'Dad tried to help him and was constantly disappointed. Dad was always bailing him out.'

Her father paid lease payments on a truck and was never repaid. He bought Tom Jnr a flower shop which failed.

Tom Jnr was arrested in 2017 after pulling a gun on his girlfriend during an argument and again in 2019 on suspicion of drink-driving.

Samantha says her father became increasingly disillusioned with his son's behaviour. 'Dad distanced himself because he was disgusted by Tom's heavy drinking and behaviour.'

When Thomas retired from his job as a Hollywood lighting director and moved to Rosarito, Mexico, he did not give his son his address. But after Meghan became engaged to Prince Harry in 2017, Tom Jnr tried to get it to pass on to journalists.

Samantha said: 'Tom Jnr's behaviour over the years has been despicable.'

Yet, in a striking twist, the estranged son would become his father's principal carer. In 2022, Thomas suffered a massive stroke. Tom Jnr moved from Oregon to Rosarito to 'support him and be there for him'. But Tom Jnr complained that his father would 'scream abuse' at him and treat him like a servant.

In January 2025, the pair moved to the Philippines in what was intended to be a fresh start, moving into adjacent apartments in a tower block.

Samantha said: 'When Dad started complaining about having pain in his leg I'd beg my brother to take Dad to hospital but Tom said Dad refused to go.'

Eventually he had a massive blood clot and had to have his leg amputated. Father and son fell out earlier this summer after a family member alleged Tom Jnr, now 60, had been taking money from his father's account and cut off access to his debit card.

Samantha said: 'When the money stopped Tom turned on dad. Then he started making these accusations.

'He told me he was going to totally destroy dad and that is what he is trying to do.'

For his part Tom Jnr has said his father was verbally abusive towards him for years and used money to try to control him.

Tom Jnr said: 'I gave up years of my life to take care of him. I wish I could take those years back.'

• READ MORE: Metropolitan Police under fire for failing to alert FBI over 'disturbing' claims about Thomas Markle
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• READ MORE: SARAH VINE: The notion someone who played a pivotal role in your life could have a very dark side is genuinely traumatic. For once, Meghan has my sympathies