Thomas Markle has been accused of fabricating a romance with his Filipina nurse, Rio Canedo, in a claim that reportedly left the healthcare worker so humiliated she quit her nursing career. The 82-year-old father of Meghan Markle had publicly described finding love with the 46-year-old carer after meeting her during his hospital stay in the Philippines, but a colleague now insists there was never any romantic relationship between them.
Canedo was reportedly left devastated by the international attention after being portrayed as Markle's new love interest, despite allegedly having no idea that their professional relationship would be presented that way. The colleague claims the nurse was simply doing her job when Markle's account of their supposed romance made headlines around the world.
Meghan Markle’s estranged father, Thomas Markle, has found love again ❤️
— HouseOfVanity (@HouseOfVanity88) March 29, 2026
The 81-year-old met Filipina nurse Rio Canedo, 35 years his junior, while recovering from life-threatening leg amputation surgery.
Calling himself “blessed and beyond happy”, he says she helped him… pic.twitter.com/zxKi4ODFSp
Thomas Markle's Love Story With Filipina Nurse
In March 2026, Markle revealed that he had found happiness with Canedo after meeting her at a hospital in Cebu, Philippines, where he was recovering following the amputation of his left leg. The retired Hollywood lighting director, who has been estranged from his daughter Meghan for years, spoke about his newfound happiness after what he described as a long period of loneliness.
He said in an interview, 'I felt neglected and sad for so many years, but now I am enjoying life again. I never expected to find joy and happiness again.'
The interview was accompanied by a photograph of Markle sitting in a wheelchair, with Canedo smiling behind him. His account presented the nurse as the woman who had brought happiness back into his life after years of heartache.
However, the supposed romance has now been challenged by someone who reportedly worked alongside Canedo at the hospital. The colleague insisted that the pair were never romantically involved and that the nurse had simply been caring for the elderly patient.
Sky News Asia correspondent Cordelia Lynch shared the colleague's account in a post on X, writing: 'A colleague of that nurse, Rio Canedo, told me there was NO romantic relationship at all.'
The colleague also claimed that Canedo struggled with English and did not understand that she was about to be portrayed as Markle's new partner.
'Rio doesn't speak English well and had no idea she was about to be portrayed as the new love interest of an elderly man she was simply caring for,' the colleague said.
The account directly contradicts Markle's earlier description of their relationship, raising questions about how the nurse came to be publicly associated with his claims of finding love again.
Rio Canedo Reportedly Quits Nursing Career After Humiliation
The alleged fallout reportedly went far beyond unwanted attention, with Canedo said to have abandoned her nursing career because of the embarrassment surrounding the story. The colleague claimed the international publicity left the 46-year-old so uncomfortable that she felt forced to walk away from her profession.
The situation has placed the spotlight on the consequences for a healthcare worker who was allegedly portrayed as someone's romantic partner without understanding how the story would be presented. While Markle's interview described a heartwarming new chapter in his personal life, the colleague's account paints a very different picture of what Canedo experienced.
The reported 36-year age gap between Markle and Canedo also drew attention to the supposed relationship, particularly after the photograph of the pair circulated alongside his comments about finding happiness again.
Thomas, who has been estranged from Meghan since the breakdown of their relationship before her 2018 marriage to Prince Harry, has remained a controversial figure in the royal family's wider story.
The latest claims come amid further scrutiny of his personal circumstances, including reports that he has moved into a care home for dementia patients in the Philippines. His health and living arrangements have also raised concerns about whether he will be questioned by the FBI over separate allegations involving child abuse images, for which he has not been convicted.
Neither Canedo's reported departure from nursing nor the allegations that the romance was fabricated have been independently confirmed by the two people directly involved. However, the colleague's account has cast serious doubt on Markle's earlier portrayal of the nurse as his new love interest.
