Thomas Markle’s grim well being replace after gruelling ‘life or demise’ amputation
Meghan Markle’s estranged father Thomas has spoken out for the first time since his ‘life or death’ leg amputation, as he speaks on his recovery and issues a plea to his daughter
A younger Meghan and Thomas Markle(Image: Supplied)
Thomas Markle has spoken out following a terrifying “life or death” procedure that saw him lose his leg during emergency surgery last year. Speaking from his new residence in the Philippines, Meghan’s estranged father has offered an update on his rehabilitation after his amputation in December.
Despite the continuing royal feud and conflicting accounts about “desperate” telephone calls and letters, the 81-year-old says he is “adjusting slowly” and maintains hope for a reunion with his daughter and the grandchildren he has never met.
The exhausting three-hour surgery was merely the most recent in a series of medical setbacks for Mr Markle, who has previously endured two heart attacks and a stroke, reports the Express.
“I’m being very well taken care of, and I am grateful for all the wonderful care I am getting,” he told The Mail on Sunday. “I am adjusting slowly and doing a lot of physiotherapy. I am feeling very happy and am making good progress. I have a long way to go but am getting used to my new circumstances.”
Despite early reports suggesting that Meghan had neglected to contact her father regarding his leg surgery, it has since come to light that she frantically rang around local hospitals attempting to gather information about her estranged father’s condition.
Her representative subsequently confirmed she had “reached out” by arranging for a letter to be delivered to her dad. However, the situation became more puzzling when Mr Markle stated he was “confused” by accounts suggesting his youngest daughter had attempted to make contact.
Her spokesperson later issued a scathing statement aimed at clearing up the contradictory accounts. It read: “It has been exceedingly difficult for the Duchess to contact her father privately, despite her efforts over the past several days. With the support of reliable and trusted contacts, her correspondence is now safely in his hands.”
Although Mr Markle and Meghan’s mother Doria separated when Meghan was three years old, Meghan maintained a strong bond with her father throughout her upbringing in California. She lived with Mr Markle from ages 11 to 18 whilst her mother was away travelling, and even described him as “thoughtful, inspiring, hardworking” in a 2014 social media post.
However, her mother, Doria, condemned her former partner for his conduct in staging photographs and speaking to the media, stating in the Sussex’s documentary that she was “absolutely stunned” by his behaviour, declaring that “as a parent, that’s not what you do. That’s not parenting.”
Mr Markle remained vocal in the years that followed regarding his daughter, consistently participating in additional interviews about her. He described their departure from royal duties as the “dumbest thing they could have done”, and owing to their estrangement, has never met his grandchildren, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four.
However, despite the continuing upheaval, Mr Markle has declared he will cherish his daughter eternally. During an appearance on Good Morning Britain last September, he stated: “I’ve always been here for her, I love her, I’ll love her forever. I want her to reach out to me and let me see my grandkids and let me have a little peace. It’s been five years.”
