The estranged father of the Duchess of Sussex, Thomas Markle, is fighting for his life in a hospital intensive care unit after undergoing emergency surgery, according to his son.
Emergency Hospitalisation in the Philippines
Thomas Markle, 81, was rushed to a medical facility on Tuesday after falling seriously ill at his residence in the Philippines. His son, Thomas Markle Jr., revealed that doctors conducted a series of scans which led to a grave diagnosis.
"I took dad to a hospital close to our home and they did various scans and the doctors said his life was in imminent danger," Thomas Jr. told the Daily Mail. Following this assessment, the elderly Markle was transferred by ambulance to a larger hospital for urgent treatment.
Critical Surgery and Ongoing Treatment
The central event in this health crisis occurred on Wednesday, when Thomas Markle Sr. was taken into the operating theatre. The emergency surgery lasted approximately three hours. Despite the procedure, his condition remains critical, and he is being monitored in the ICU.
His medical team is preparing for a further operation to remove a blood clot, indicating the complexity and severity of his situation. In a public plea for support, Thomas Markle Jr. said, "I would ask everyone around the world to keep him in their thoughts."
Royal Family Silence and Strained Relations
The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has been estranged from her father since before her marriage to Prince Harry in 2018. The rift has been played out publicly in the media over several years.
A spokesperson for The Independent confirmed that Meghan Markle did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding her father's hospitalisation. The lack of public communication underscores the deep and ongoing fracture within the family.
This latest development adds a sombre chapter to the long-running saga between the former Hollywood lighting director and his daughter, now a senior member of the British Royal Family through marriage.
