Meghan Markle’s father Thomas has had life-saving surgery to amputate his left leg below the knee, the Daily Mail can reveal today.
Mr Markle, 81, underwent a three-hour operation on Wednesday to remove his left foot and lower leg after a blood clot cut off circulation and the limb turned black.
His son Thomas Jr confirmed the news last night saying: ‘My dad is being very brave. His foot turned blue and then black. It happened very quickly. I took him to a local hospital and they did some scans and an ultrasound and said the leg had to be amputated.’
Retired Hollywood lighting director Mr Markle was rushed via ambulance to a bigger hospital in Cebu in the Philippines – the city he moved to earlier this year in a bid to create a ‘new life’ away from what he called the ‘constant pain’ of his estrangement from Meghan.
Doctors immediately took him into surgery and removed the limb.
Tom Jr said: ‘There was no option. I was told the leg had to be removed and it was a case of life or death.’
Mr Markle now faces another procedure to remove a blood clot in his left thigh.
He has never met his son-in-law Prince Harry or grandchildren Archie, six and four-year-old Lilibet.
His son Tom Jr, who has been his primary caregiver, said doctors remain ‘extremely concerned’ for his father’s welfare.
Mr Markle remains in the intensive care unit in stable condition.
Tom Jr said: ‘One of his doctors said the next two or three days are critical. His left leg has been removed below the knee. They were worried about infection setting in – sepsis or gangrene. The flesh was black and dying.
‘There was no option given.
‘It was either ‘we have to operate now and remove the leg or he may die.’
‘It was a life-threatening situation.’
Mr Markle has been estranged from his daughter – who he raised single-handedly from the age of 11 to 18 – since the 2018 royal wedding.
He posed for paparazzi pictures on the eve of the wedding believing they would show him in a better light.
He later suffered two heart attacks and said his daughter was ‘furious’ with him.
When he was unable to attend her wedding at St George’s Chapel, Meghan entered on her own and was walked part-way down the aisle by King Charles and act Mr Markle called ‘incredibly kind and generous.’
Mr Markle has been in increasingly poor health in recent years.
He suffered a massive stroke in 2022 and lost his ability to speak but partially regained it thanks to speech therapy.
He moved to the Philippines in January telling Daily Mail: ‘I was constantly reminded of my estrangement from my daughter while I was in the US and Mexico. I could not escape her and Harry who were always on TV with their shows, books and interviews.
‘So I moved to the other side of the world hoping for a quieter life.’
The next two days will be ‘critical’ according to doctors treating Mr Markle, who spoke to the Daily Mail with his permission.
‘The wound is healing but the next 24 to 72 hours are critical,’ one said.
‘We need to make sure the wound heals and does not become infected. At the moment he is in stable condition and doing well. But, at his age, that could change quickly.’
Mr Markle told the Mail on Sunday in September: ‘My only wish before I die is to meet my grandkids. I want them to know I love them and care for them.’
This week Prince Harry appeared on the US talk show The Stephen Colbert show and spoke at a conference of estate agents in Canada.
Meghan launched her Netflix Christmas special of her show ‘With Love, Meghan.’
Mr Markle’s son said the family had been ‘deeply touched’ by the outpouring of love and support for his father from around the globe, particularly from the UK.
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 Sussexes have not commented on Mr Markle’s health crisis.
