After seven years of estrangement, Duchess Meghan has delivered a letter to her father, Thomas Markle, following his public pleas to get in contact.

The 44-year-old Duchess of Sussex, who lives in Southern California with husband Prince Harry and their two children, has reached out to Markle after he underwent emergency amputation surgery, a spokesperson confirmed to the BBC and People on Dec. 10.

"With the support of reliable and trusted contacts, her correspondence is now safely in his hands," the statement read.

"Given that a Daily Mail reporter has remained at her father's bedside throughout, broadcasting each interaction and breaching clear ethical boundaries, it has been exceedingly difficult for the Duchess to contact her father privately, despite her efforts over the past several days," the spokesperson noted.

USA TODAY has reached out to Meghan's team for comment.

"As soon as Mr Markle gave consent for his contact details, the name of his hospital and his room number to be provided to his daughter's spokesman, [Daily Mail U.S. editor] Caroline [Graham] shared them," the Daily Mail's parent company, DMG, told the BBC.

"It is entirely untrue that each interaction has been broadcast, and the suggestion that Caroline has breached ethical boundaries is demonstrably false and vehemently denied."

Thomas Markle's left leg was amputated after a blood clot

Markle, 81, had his left leg amputated below the knee after he experienced a blood clot, the former TV lighting director and his medical team told The Mail on Sunday in a detailed update on his health that published Dec. 6. He has been housed inside an intensive care unit at a hospital in Cebu, Philippines.

In the article, Markle opened up to Graham about feeling his phantom limb, his upcoming recovery and his feelings toward his younger daughter.

'I've always said I am open to reconciling with my daughter. I have never stopped loving her," he told Graham. "I don't want to die estranged from Meghan. I want to meet my grandkids. It might be nice to meet her husband too.'

At the time, he also expressed confusion about media reports that his "Suits" star daughter had been trying to contact him.

Markle has experienced multiple health setbacks in the past decade, including heart attacks and a stroke. He told Graham he's "grateful to be alive" but "living without a leg is a tough prospect. I'm worried."

He and Meghan's relationship deteriorated in the lead-up to her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry — a falling out that he has recounted in multiple interviews.

Though original plans involved Markle walking Meghan down the aisle, she released a statement days before the royal ceremony that he would "not be attending our wedding" and she hoped "he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health."

Markle, who says he experienced heart attacks prior to the nuptials, had staged fake paparazzi pictures before the event.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Duchess Meghan contacts her dad after amputation, 7-year estrangement

Reporting by KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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