Thomas Markle, the estranged father of the Duchess of Sussex, has reportedly asked a heartbreaking question about his daughter as he fights for his life following major surgery. The 81-year-old is in intensive care in the Philippines after undergoing an amputation of his left leg below the knee.
A Desperate Fight for Survival
According to his family, Thomas Markle was rushed to hospital on Tuesday after falling seriously ill. Doctors performed a three-hour emergency operation on Wednesday to amputate his left foot and lower leg. The drastic surgery was necessary after a blood clot cut off circulation, causing the limb to turn black.
His condition remains grave, with medical staff said to be "extremely concerned" for his welfare. He is reportedly stable but still in intensive care, facing a further procedure to remove another clot from his left thigh. His son, Thomas Markle Jr., who lives next door to his father in Cebu, has stated his father is "literally fighting for his life."
A Painful Estrangement and a Poignant Question
The health emergency comes after years of ill health and a very public estrangement from his daughter, Meghan, and her husband, Prince Harry. The rift began in 2018 when Thomas was caught staging paparazzi photographs ahead of the royal wedding. He has never met his son-in-law or his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet.
In a poignant moment just weeks before his hospitalisation, Thomas revealed the depth of his anguish during a terrifying earthquake in October. As his 19th-floor apartment swayed violently, he turned to a journalist and asked, "If we die tonight, do you think Meghan will come to my funeral?" He reportedly added, with a chuckle, "Will I get a better funeral because my son-in-law is fifth in line to the throne?"
A Family's Plea for Compassion
As Thomas Markle battles in hospital, his other children have issued a fresh, public appeal to the Duchess. Thomas Jr. has implored his half-sister to show their father compassion. "I would implore Meghan and Harry to reach out to Dad," he stated. He confirmed that neither Meghan nor Harry have made contact since Thomas fell ill.
This plea echoes years of public attempts by Thomas Markle to reconcile. He has suffered two heart attacks and a stroke since the estrangement began, and moved to the Philippines in January 2025, partly to escape the "constant pain" of the fractured relationship. Meghan herself addressed the situation in 2021, telling Oprah Winfrey, "I grieve a lot. I mean, I've lost my father."
The coming days will be critical for Thomas Markle's recovery. His family's hope now rests not only on medical care but on the possibility of a long-awaited gesture of peace from across the ocean.
