Meghan Markle’s Father Thomas Markle Undergoes ‘Life or Death’ Leg Amputation

CEBU, PHILIPPINES — Thomas Markle, the estranged father of Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is reportedly recovering from major, life-saving surgery following an urgent health scare.

Critical Health Scare Requires Amputation

Thomas Markle, a former Hollywood lighting director, suffered a blood clot that rapidly worsened, leaving doctors with “no option but to amputate his left leg below the knee,” according to his son, Tom Markle Jr.

Speaking to the Daily Mail on December 4th, Tom Markle Jr. detailed the sudden severity of the situation:

“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… I was told the leg had to be removed and it was a case of life or death.”

Tom Markle Jr. noted that his 81-year-old father has been “very brave throughout the ordeal.” Thomas Markle is said to have recently relocated to the Philippines with his son and received care at a medical facility in Cebu.

Prognosis and Post-Surgery Concerns

As Thomas Markle recovers, his prognosis remains cautiously optimistic. Tom Jr. shared that hospital staff are closely monitoring his condition:

“One of his doctors said the next two or three days are critical. They were worried about infection setting in, sepsis or gangrene.”

Continuing Estrangement from the Duchess

Thomas Markle’s health crisis comes amid his years-long estrangement from his daughter, Meghan, which began shortly before her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.

The Wedding Incident: Thomas Markle did not attend the nuptials in England after he confirmed he had staged paparazzi photos with a British tabloid.He later expressed regret, stating he had “apologized about this thing… at least a hundred times or so.”

The Rift: In her bombshell 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan claimed that her father’s alleged dishonesty about the staged photos was the catalyst for their falling out. She recalled telling him: “I just need you to tell me. And if you tell me the truth, we can help. And he wasn’t able to do that. And that for me has really resonated, especially now as a mother.”