Meghan Markle has reached out privately to her father, Thomas Markle, after emergency surgery led to the amputation of his leg, a development that has drawn renewed attention to one of the most public and painful family estrangements in recent royal history. The confirmation, issued through a spokesperson who stated, "I can confirm she has reached out to her father," marks the first acknowledged communication between the Duchess of Sussex and Thomas since their rupture ahead of her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry. The outreach comes as the 81-year-old remains in recovery in the Philippines following what relatives described as a "life or death" crisis.
Details of the medical emergency surfaced through Thomas Markle Jr., who said his father suffered a blood clot in his thigh that abruptly cut off circulation to his lower leg. In an interview recounting the ordeal, he said the change in his father's condition was immediate and frightening. According to Thomas Jr., his father's foot turned "blue then black" before doctors informed the family of the only viable option. "There was no option. I was told the leg had to be removed," he said, adding that emergency crews "raced us by ambulance, with the sirens going, to a much bigger hospital in the centre of the city. My dad has undergone emergency surgery. I would ask everyone around the world to keep him in their thoughts."
The severity of the surgery, performed below the knee, appears to have prompted a break from years of silence. For much of that period, Meghan has remained publicly distant, while Thomas has periodically spoken to media outlets about their fractured relationship. The duchess's spokesperson initially denied reports of contact, but reversed course as the full extent of Thomas's condition became public.
The renewed attention has revived scrutiny of the events that propelled the family into estrangement. In the months leading to Meghan's marriage at St. George's Chapel in 2018, Thomas admitted to staging paparazzi photographs for payment-an arrangement he initially concealed from his daughter. That episode, coupled with two heart attacks that prevented him from attending the ceremony, marked the end of their communication. King Charles ultimately walked Meghan down the aisle in his place.
Meghan later described the turning point in her interview with Oprah Winfrey, recalling that she offered her father an opportunity to be honest about the staged photos. "I said, 'If you tell me the truth, we can help,' and he wasn't able to do that," she said. "And that, for me, has really resonated, especially now as a mother."
The latest medical emergency has galvanized other members of the Markle family, including Samantha Markle, who remains estranged from Meghan but urged the public to recognize their father's resilience. "My father has been through two heart attacks, a stroke, and an earthquake. I hope he can pull through this," 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."
