Thomas Markle had been rushed to hospital earlier this week
Meghan Markle has reportedly reached out to estranged dad Thomas Markle after he was admitted to hospital.
Mr Markle had his left leg amputated in a life-saving operation, after it turned black as a result of a blood clot. He was taken to hospital after falling ill at his home in the Philippines.
He later underwent a three-hour emergency procedure to remove his leg below the knee after doctors concluded that if not removed, it could be fatal, the Mirror reports.
A spokesman for the Duchess of Sussex said: “I can confirm she has reached out to her father.”
His son, Thomas Markle Jnr, said: “I was told the leg had to be removed and it was a case of life or death.One of his doctors said the next two or three days are critical. His left leg has been removed below the knee. They were worried about infection setting in – sepsis or gangrene. The flesh was black and dying.
“There was no option given. It was either ‘we have to operate now and remove the leg, or he may die’. It was a life-threatening situation.”
Doctors are now closely monitoring Mr Markle for signs of infection and further complications following the amputation. His family has asked for privacy as he remains under intensive medical care.
The former Hollywood lighting director has been in poor health for several years. He suffered two heart attacks on the eve of his daughter Meghan’s wedding to Prince Harry at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in May 2018, which prevented him from travelling from Los Angeles to Britain.
King Charles, then Prince of Wales, later walked Meghan part of the way down the aisle. Mr Markle later suffered a stroke in 2022 that left him unable to speak for months. Although he regained some speech following extensive therapy, his health has continued to decline.
He has never met Prince Harry or his grandchildren, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four. He has been estranged from his daughter since the royal wedding.
The breakdown in relations followed his decision to pose for staged paparazzi photographs ahead of the ceremony. Meghan later cut him off after a heated phone call with Harry while Mr Markle was recovering in hospital.
The duke is reported to have told him that he was in his predicament because he had ignored repeated warnings not to speak to the press following the paparazzi scandal. Mr Markle later said the exchange deeply upset him.
“I felt disrespected by them. I was recovering from a heart attack, lying in a bed, having a phone call, and the things were being said that hurt me,” he said at the time. “I felt like I was being blamed for my mistakes when I was in my hospital bed recovering from a heart attack.” Mr Markle has previously said that his “only wish is to see my grandchildren before I die”.
