Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle Snr, had to undergo life-saving surgery during which his leg was amputated, it has been claimed. Mr Markle, 81, had been rushed to hospital and underwent a three-hour operation on Wednesday to remove his left foot and lower leg after a circulation issue turned the limb blue and black.
The news was announced by his son, Thomas Jr, who gave an update on his father’s condition. He told the Daily Mail: “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.”
He added: “There was no option. I was told the leg had to be removed and it was a case of life or death.”
The former TV lighting director underwent the operation in the Philippines, where he moved to earlier this year.
Thomas Snr is known to have a difficult relationship with his daughter Meghan, and has previously talked about the “pain” of their estrangement since her marriage to Prince Harry.
He has never met his grandchildren Archie and Lillibet and did not walk his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day, with King Charles instead doing the honours.
It is not thought that Meghan has reached out to her family following the health ordeal, with Thomas Snr remaining in a critical condition in hospital and awaiting a further operation in the coming days.
Tom Jr added: “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, who has been estranged from his daughter since her wedding to the Duke of Sussex in 2018, has seen his health decline for several years.
He suffered two heart attacks just before the Sussexes tied the knot and latter suffered a stroke in 2022 which left him unable to speak.
Mr Markle’s other daughter, Samantha, 61, said that she believes the pain and trauma of the last few years have taken a toll on her father.
She said: “He is a strong man, but he has been through so much. I am praying that he is strong enough to survive this,” she said.
“My father has been through two heart attacks, a stroke and an earthquake. I hope he can pull through this.”
