In a deeply emotional appeal from his hospital bed, Thomas Markle has publicly pleaded with his daughter, the Duchess of Sussex, for reconciliation, stating he does not want to die while they remain estranged.
A Life-Saving Surgery and a Father's Plea
The 81-year-old father of Meghan Markle is recovering in a hospital in Cebu, Philippines, after undergoing an emergency amputation of his left leg below the knee. The drastic surgery, performed on Wednesday, was described by his medical team as a matter of 'life or death'.
Speaking to The Mail on Sunday with his express permission, one of his surgeons, Dr Alexander Kaw, explained the severity of the situation. 'We had to remove the foot,' he said. 'There was a massive blood clot in his thigh that had stopped circulation. It was life-or-death surgery. Had the infection moved to his heart, it would most likely have been fatal.'
From his intensive care bed, Mr Markle made a heartfelt request. 'I don't want to die estranged from Meghan,' he said, appealing to see her 'one more time before I die'. He also expressed a longing to meet his son-in-law, Prince Harry, and his grandchildren, Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, 'before it's too late'.
Confusion Over Contact and a Strained Relationship
Mr Markle expressed confusion over widespread reports that the Duchess had 'reached out' to him following news of his health crisis. He stated he had purposely not changed his phone number since their rift began so she could always contact him, but confirmed he had received no messages from her last week.
With his permission, the newspaper independently verified with the hospital administration, reception, intensive care unit, and attending medical staff that, to their knowledge, no contact had been made by Meghan Markle or her representatives. A hospital source noted, 'If Meghan or anyone connected with her had called here we would have known.'
The estrangement between father and daughter dates back to the lead-up to her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry. The rift famously began when Mr Markle posed for paparazzi photographs in an attempt to 'improve' his image. He then suffered two heart attacks, preventing him from walking her down the aisle at Windsor's St George's Chapel—a role partially fulfilled by the then Prince of Wales, an act Mr Markle later called 'incredibly kind'.
Recovery Road Ahead and Public Thanks
While Mr Markle is now stable, his doctor cautioned he is 'not out of the woods yet'. He suffered atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat, following the surgery. His recovery and rehabilitation are expected to take months, involving a stay in a rehabilitation centre to learn to walk again.
Despite putting on a brave face and using gallows humour—joking that his 'tap-dancing days are over'—Mr Markle admitted to fears about his future independence. 'I have always been a very independent man. I don't like the idea of spending the rest of my life in a wheelchair,' he confided.
He took the opportunity to publicly thank well-wishers, particularly those from Britain. 'I want to thank all the well-wishers from around the world who have been sending positive messages for my recovery,' he said. 'I am very grateful to the wonderful medical team who saved my life.'
Mr Markle moved to Cebu earlier this year seeking distance from the constant media scrutiny surrounding his daughter and Prince Harry. He remains in a private room in the ICU, under guard, as he begins the long road to recovery, hopeful for a reconciliation that has eluded him for over five years.
