The Duchess of Sussex’s dad is due to be fitted with a prosthetic leg following emergency life-saving surgery that required his limb to be partially amputated.
In December last year, Thomas Markle Sr, who has been estranged from his daughter Meghan since 2018, was rushed to hospital in the Philippines with a blood clot in his left leg, which could have been fatal. Surgeons spent three hours amputating his leg below the knee.
Following the surgery, Thomas Markle Jr, Meghan’s half brother, announced in a livestream that his father was recovering, undertaking physical therapy and would soon be trying on prosthetics.
Markle Jr said: “We’re going to have to get him fitted for a prosthetic here pretty soon and get that man walking again. That’s the goal.
“That’s the priority.” In the same livestream, Markle Jr slammed his half sister for refusing to visit their dad and allegedly not helping to cover the medical bills.
It’s reported that the Duchess hasn’t visited her dad in hospital, sending him a letter delivered by US Embassy officials instead. Markle Jr added that his family had been “deeply touched” by the show of love and support for his father from around the world.
Thomas Markle Sr
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A blood clot was found in Thomas’ left leg(Image: Channel 5)
He said: “Dad has a long road ahead. This was a major operation but he needed it to save his life.
“I would ask everyone to keep him in their thoughts. He is a brave and tough man.
“I would appeal to Meghan to show him compassion at this very difficult time.” The 81-year-old granddad has suffered increasingly poor health in recent years.
In 2022, he had a massive stroke and lost his ability to speak. Following speech therapy, he has regained his speech partially.
Meghan and her dad fell out days ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry, when Markle Sr staged photos of himself in a cafe with the British paparazzi. Because of this incident and declining health, he pulled out of the wedding, and from walking Meghan down the aisle.
He has never met his royal son-in-law or his grandchildren. He moved to the Philippines in 2025.
