Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has reached out to her estranged father, Thomas Markle, after news broke that he underwent an emergency leg amputation in the Philippines. The outreach, confirmed by Meghan’s spokesperson on December 5, 2025, marks an unexpected moment of contact in a relationship long characterized by public tension and private heartbreak.
According to Page Six and People, Thomas Markle, 81, had his left leg amputated below the knee following a sudden and severe blood clot that blocked circulation, causing his foot to turn blue and then black. The dramatic turn of events unfolded rapidly. Thomas Markle Jr., Meghan’s half-brother, told the Daily Mail that the family had “no option” but to consent to the three-hour surgery, describing it as “a case of life or death.” Medical staff in Cebu, Philippines, where Thomas now resides, acted quickly after scans and an ultrasound revealed the seriousness of the situation.
“My dad is being very brave. His foot turned blue and then black. It happened very quickly,” Thomas Markle Jr. shared with the Daily Mail. He added that doctors remain “extremely concerned” about the risk of infection, such as sepsis or gangrene, in the days following the operation. “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.”
Despite the gravity of the situation, Thomas Markle’s medical struggles are not over. He faces an additional procedure to remove a blood clot in his left thigh, further complicating his recovery. The family’s ordeal has been compounded by his history of serious health problems. As Thomas’s daughter Samantha Markle told the press, “He is a strong man, but he has been through so much. My father has been through two heart attacks, a stroke and an earthquake.”
Meghan’s relationship with her father has been fraught for years. The breakdown began in the run-up to her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, when Thomas Markle became embroiled in a paparazzi photo scandal. He was found to have colluded with photographers for staged images that appeared to show him preparing for the royal wedding. The resulting media storm led to a dramatic fallout, and Thomas ultimately pulled out of the ceremony in Windsor, citing health issues. King Charles III—then the Prince of Wales—walked Meghan down the aisle on May 19, 2018, stepping in at the last minute.
The rift between Meghan and her father has only deepened since the wedding. Thomas Markle has not met his grandchildren, Prince Archie (now 6) and Princess Lilibet (now 4), according to the BBC. He has been outspoken in his criticism of Meghan and Harry’s decision to step back from royal duties and to voice their grievances against the royal family. In one interview, Thomas lamented, “I think they’re both turning into lost souls at this point. I don’t know what they’re looking for. I don’t think they know what they’re looking for.”
Meghan’s attempt to reach out now comes after years of silence and public accusations from her father, who has repeatedly claimed she refuses to speak with him. “I still do not understand why she continues to ghost me,” he told the Mail on Sunday. “My only wish is to see my grandchildren before I die.” Despite the tabloid headlines and the family’s public disputes, Meghan’s spokesperson confirmed unequivocally to People: “I can confirm she has reached out to her father.” The statement was echoed by Page Six and the BBC, although it remains unclear whether Meghan’s attempt at contact was successful or how it was received by Thomas.
For Thomas Markle, the latest medical emergency is just another chapter in a series of health crises that have shaped his later years. Before the amputation, he survived two heart attacks, a stroke, and even an earthquake, according to his daughter Samantha. His absence from his daughter’s royal wedding was itself due to emergency heart surgery, a fact that became a flashpoint for speculation and criticism in the British and American press.
The Markle family’s struggles have played out in the public eye, often with little room for reconciliation away from the glare of cameras. Meghan is also known to have had a strained relationship with her siblings, Samantha and Thomas Jr., compounding the family’s difficulties. The media interest in the Markles during Meghan’s engagement to Prince Harry was intense, and the fallout from the staged photos and Thomas’s subsequent withdrawal from the wedding ceremony set the tone for years of estrangement.
In the aftermath of the wedding, Thomas Markle continued to give interviews, expressing confusion and hurt over Meghan’s silence. His wish to meet his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet, has become a recurring theme in his public statements. As BBC reported, there is no indication that Thomas has ever met them, and the family remains divided not just by geography but by years of conflict and misunderstanding.
The news of Meghan reaching out has generated significant attention, raising questions about whether a reconciliation might be possible in the face of such a serious health scare. Family rifts, especially those played out in public, are notoriously difficult to heal. Yet moments of crisis sometimes serve as unlikely catalysts for change. Whether this contact leads to a renewed relationship between Meghan and her father remains uncertain, but it is a rare gesture of connection in a story marked by separation.
For now, Thomas Markle’s health remains in a precarious state. Doctors in Cebu are closely monitoring him as he faces another surgery to remove a blood clot in his thigh. The coming days are critical, with the risk of infection still looming large. Meanwhile, Meghan’s attempt to reconnect—however tentative—has offered a glimmer of humanity in a saga often defined by headlines and hurt feelings.
As the world watches, the Markle family’s story continues to unfold, shaped by both personal hardship and the relentless curiosity of the public. Whatever the outcome, the events of this week have reminded everyone that, behind the headlines, there are real people grappling with pain, regret, and—perhaps—a hope for reconciliation.