Thomas Markle, the father of the Duchess of Sussex, is confronting a severe financial crisis following emergency surgery that saved his life. The 81-year-old former Hollywood lighting director underwent a three-hour "life or death" operation to amputate his left leg after falling ill at his home in the Philippines.
A Desperate Financial Situation
In a devastating blow, it has been revealed that his health insurance will not cover the costs of his critical care and the subsequent extensive rehabilitation he requires. His son, Thomas Markle Jnr, who acts as his full-time carer, disclosed that everything must now be paid for out of pocket. "So, got kind of really screwed on insurance here... nothing that he had there that he thought is going to cover him here," he stated. "So everything’s out of pocket and it’s going to be a day-by-day thing."
Thomas Jnr, 59, emphasised the gravity of the situation, noting his father's previous serious health issues, including two heart attacks and a stroke. He described the new reality, saying, "Dad’s going to be okay, but it’s going to be a whole different world than what he’s used to. This is a big big serious deal and it’s going to take a lot of extensive care."
Family Dynamics and a Royal Connection
This development follows reports that Meghan Markle, 44, who has been estranged from her father for years, "reached out" to him after the major surgery. The contact comes after a long period of distance, which began notably around the time of her wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018. Thomas Snr was due to walk her down the aisle at Windsor Castle but was forced to pull out on doctors' orders following his heart attacks.
The rift deepened after a heated phone call with Prince Harry while Mr Markle was in hospital recovering. Thomas Markle has never met his son-in-law or his grandchildren, Archie, six, and Lilibet, four. He has publicly stated that his "only wish is to see my grandchildren before I die."
Crowdfunding for Care
Faced with the enormous uninsured costs, Thomas Markle Jnr is now turning to public fundraising to support his father's ongoing medical needs. He has been caring for his father on what he described as a "skimpy little budget," recently moving to cheaper accommodation in Cebu. He plans to direct revenue from his YouTube channel and is considering launching a GoFundMe campaign.
"Now my channel and everything that I make off of it, which is not that much... is going to take care of my father," he said in a video. He is being supported by his 28-year-old Filipino girlfriend, Rose, whom he credits with helping him cope. The family's plight highlights the severe challenges of international healthcare coverage and the personal toll of a very public family estrangement.
