Meghan Markle’s dad Thomas, 77, ‘struggling to speak’ and faces ‘uphill battle’

MEGHAN Markle’s dad has revealed he is “struggling to speak” as he recovers from a massive stroke.

Thomas Markle, 77, said he faces an “uphill battle” to talk again after the health scare, which saw him rushed to hospital on Monday.

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The retired Hollywood lighting director fell ill in Mexico on Monday night and was rushed to hospital in an ambulance.

He was discharged five days later, with estranged daughter Meghan understood to have since reached out.

Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, Thomas said: “I feel hugely grateful and know how lucky I am to be alive.

“I want to thank everyone, especially the wonderful doctors and nurses who saved my life. They are angels.

“I have been deeply moved by loving messages I’ve received from all over the world. People have been so kind.

“I can’t speak right now, but I am working hard and will thank people properly when I can.”

Mr Markle had been planning to fly to Britain this week to celebrate next weekend’s Platinum Jubilee – but the stroke scuppered the trip.

And his condition was so serious he could only communicate by scrawling down messages on a piece of paper, pals said.

Writing on a whiteboard with a felt-tip pen, he explained: “I wanted to come to pay my respects to the Queen. I wish her a happy Jubilee and many more years.”

The dad now said he now faces an “uphill battle” in his recovery but he “will do it”.

“I have lots of hard work to do and will do it,” he wrote. “I want to get well.”

The severe stroke was caused by a blood clot on the right side of Mr Markle’s brain.

Meghan, 40, is reportedly understood to have now reached out to her dad’s camp after he was discharged from hospital.

‘MEGHAN IS CONCERNED’

An insider told the Sunday Mirror: “Despite their estrangement, Meghan is concerned.

“She wants to know if there is any way to contact her father privately, without other family knowing about it or having to get involved.”

Meghan is said to be worried that contacting her dad will mean having to speak to her half-siblings Thomas Jr, 55, and Samantha.

The source said: “Meghan can’t contact her half-siblings because she believes they have their own agendas.

“If she can contact their dad, she wants it to be totally private. It won’t involve Netflix, it won’t involve any photographs and it must not involve any tip-offs to the paparazzi.”

The health scare comes after Thomas warned in a bitter High Court privacy case he was so unwell he could “die tomorrow”.

In a letter in the case launched by Meghan over a “personal and private” letter, he revealed he was “clinically obese”, had “heart and lung issues” and was on blood-thinners that affect his breathing.

Meghan’s dad famously missed their wedding four years ago after claiming he had suffered a heart attack.

Meghan’s relationship with her dad crumbled after he posed for paparazzi pics ahead of the 2018 wedding.

Harry and Meghan have confirmed they will attend the Queen’s party with Archie, three, and Lilibet, who has her first birthday during the Platinum Jubilee weekend.

They are thought to be staying at Frogmore Cottage at Windsor Castle.

Mr Markle has never met Harry nor his grandchildren.