Meghan Markle’s Father Recovers From Emergency Amputation — Where Is His Daughter Amid His Health Crisis?

As Thomas Markle Sr. prepares for life with a prosthetic leg after a devastating amputation, attention has turned to where his estranged daughter has been — and the images tell their own story. See the photos and videos for yourself at the end of this article.

Thomas Markle Sr. was learning how to live in a new body this week, as his family revealed he was set to be fitted with a prosthetic leg following an emergency amputation that nearly cost him his life.

The 81-year-old, a former Hollywood lighting director, underwent the operation in December 2025 while in the Philippines, after a blood clot in his left thigh cut off blood flow to his foot and left doctors with no option but to amputate below the knee.

Months later, the message from his son was blunt — the focus had shifted from survival to mobility. Thomas Markle Jr. said his father was now "going through therapy" and "physical rehab" as the family looked ahead to the next major step in recovery.

"We're going to have to get him fitted for a prosthetic here pretty soon and get that man walking again," he continued. "That's the goal. That's the priority." The update came with a reminder of the stakes that surrounded the operation.

Thomas Sr. had faced what his family described as a three-hour life-or-death procedure, and the amputation was presented as the intervention that stopped a catastrophe unfolding in real time.

It was also the latest chapter in a longer, alarming medical history — he has suffered two heart attacks and a stroke in recent years. Against that backdrop, money has remained an uncomfortable but persistent part of the story.

Thomas Jr. has claimed their father's health insurance would not cover the cost of care, and he pointed to the gap between medical bills in the United States and treatment in the Philippines.

He said costs in the United States could have spiralled into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, while in the Philippines, it would likely come in closer to $20,000, stressing that even "every little bit helps," as he described people contributing what they can.

In the aftermath of the December operation, the Markle family's internal strains collided with public fascination over the father-daughter relationship. Meghan Markle has been estranged from Thomas Sr. since before her May 19, 2018, wedding to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.

After the amputation, her representatives said the Duchess had "reached out" to her father. A letter was sent to his hospital bedside and delivered by officials from the United States embassy. Still, Thomas Jr. has claimed Meghan, 44, has not paid anything towards her father's care.

Around the same time, Sally Preston, described as a friend of Thomas Jr., launched a fundraiser aimed at helping to cover medical expenses and recovery costs, adding another public layer to a deeply private crisis.

As the family discussed prosthetics and rehabilitation, Thomas Sr. himself offered a calmer, more hopeful account of where things stood. "I'm being very well taken care of and I am grateful for all the wonderful care I am getting," he shared.

That is where the question of Meghan's whereabouts sharpened. While her father recovers overseas and prepares for a prosthetic fitting, Meghan and Prince Harry have been photographed and filmed on a surprise humanitarian trip to Jordan.

On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, the couple continued their visit with a stop at the Za'atari Refugee Camp, the world's largest refugee camp for displaced Syrians, where they met with officials from Questscope.

The organisation's work highlights mental health services, physical rehabilitation, and community-based support for people affected by war, displacement, and serious illness — themes that carried a pointed resonance as reports about Thomas Sr.'s rehabilitation circulated almost simultaneously.

Online, the timing produced a mixed reaction that split along familiar fault lines. Some commenters framed the Jordan photographs as a stark contrast to Thomas Sr.'s situation. "Why don't you go and check on your father!!!" one person wrote.

Another added, "Instead of visiting her father's hospital bed." Others focused less on family tensions and more on what they were seeing in the images and clips from the trip, oscillating between mockery and defence.

"Did the airline lose her clothes? Looks like she got dressed in a lost and found bin," one netizen commented. Another observer echoed that sentiment, sharing, "That outfit is so confusing."

Another typed, "😂Now this is the biggest publicity stunt ever." A separate commentator remarked, "She is putting her hands in the same position that [Kate] puts them in."

The criticism intensified in some corners, with one person adding in part, "Surprise!! 😂😂😂😂I just can't. Did they practice this pose? Do they just sit around thinking up sketches they can act out to pretend they are royals? You can't make this stuff up."

However, a different voice pushed back on the Meghan Markle pile-on, writing, "I think people just get her wrong.. I think maybe she is super smart and just comes off different from what people expect.. [sic]."

For now, the two narratives continue to run in parallel: an elderly man rebuilding his life after amputation and working towards a prosthetic, and his famous daughter undertaking high-profile humanitarian engagements abroad — all under the glare of the public.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, are pictured seated side by side during their visit to Jordan in a post dated February 26, 2026. The Duchess, dressed in muted earth tones, clasps her hands neatly in her lap, while the Duke leans forward with a focused expression as they listen to local officials during an engagement centred on humanitarian health and refugee support. | Source: Instagram/pagesix

Meghan Markle smiles as she stands alongside Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, during their engagement in Jordan, as seen in a post dated February 26, 2026. Positioned against a wall decorated with musical notes and childlike artwork, the Duchess appears relaxed yet attentive, while the Duke rests his hand thoughtfully against his chin, listening intently during discussions tied to mental health and community-based support initiatives. | Source: Instagram/pagesix

Meghan Markle leans in to observe children taking part in a hands-on activity during the couple's visit to Jordan, captured in a post dated February 26, 2026. Standing beside a local official who gestures mid-conversation, the Duchess watches closely as young participants concentrate on painting at a crowded table lined with brushes and bottles of colour. | Source: Instagram/pagesix