Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has reportedly tried to contact her father after his surgery. Photo / Getty Images
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has reportedly tried to contact her father after his surgery. Photo / Getty Images
The Duchess of Sussex has “reached out” to her estranged father after reports he has had his leg amputated in the Philippines.
Meghan tried to contact Thomas Markle, 81, on Friday, her spokesman said.
However, it was unclear whether they actually spoke.
The pair have not been in touch since2018 after the fallout over staged paparazzi photographs before the Sussexes’ wedding, although Meghan is said to have “tried” to reach out in the past.
Her spokesman said on Friday evening: “I can confirm she has reached out to her father.”
Meghan instructed aides to try to establish whether news reports about her father’s health were accurate.
Thomas Markle, father of Meghan Markle, has reportedly had a leg amputated. Photo / File
The Daily Mail revealed on Wednesday that Thomas Markle was “fighting for his life” after collapsing at his home in Cebu, in the Philippines, where he moved at the beginning of this year.
He had emergency surgery followed by a second operation to remove a blood clot, which was said to have resulted in his leg being amputated below the knee.
His son, Meghan’s half-brother Thomas Markle jnr, 59, who also relocated to the Southeast Asian country, told the newspaper on Thursday: “I went to see Dad today”.
“He is heavily medicated on painkillers and other drugs. He is hooked up to all kinds of machines. He’s pretty much out of it.
“The doctors say he is stable, which is good news. He is a brave man and a fighter. I was told the leg had to be removed and it was a case of life or death.
“The whole family is grateful for the outpouring of love and well-wishes from people around the globe, particularly from Britain.”
Thomas Markle has been in poor health for several years.
He is said to have suffered two heart attacks on the eve of Meghan’s wedding, which prevented him from flying to Britain for the occasion.
In his absence, the King, then Prince of Wales, gave Meghan away.
Thomas Markle is also said to have suffered a stroke in 2022.
His son had “implored” Harry and Meghan to reach out to him.
The Duke has never spoken to his father-in-law and Markle has never met his grandchildren, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4.
Prince Harry wrote in his memoir, Spare, that the Duchess was “mourning the loss of her father”.
But Markle retaliated, telling an Australian television programme: “She killed me and then mourned me”, adding: “I refuse to be buried by her.”
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