Duchess of SussexKay’s father left the hospital last night, five days after having a stroke – and sent his best wishes immediately Queen For a happy birth anniversary.
Retired Hollywood Lighting Director Thomas MarkleThe 77-year-old who split from Meghan said: ‘I am so 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 am deeply touched by the loving messages I have received from all over the world. People have become so kind. I can’t speak right now, but I’m working hard and will thank people when I can.
Retired Hollywood lighting director Thomas Markle, 77, who split from Meghan, said: ‘I am extremely grateful and know how lucky I am to be alive.
Mr Markle was planning to travel to the UK this week to celebrate next weekend’s Platinum Jubilee, but a stroke on Monday night, which left him with limited speech, disrupted the trip.
Writing with a tip-tip pen on the whiteboard, he said: ‘I wanted to come to pay homage to the Queen. I wish him a very Happy Jayanti and many more years.’
The severe stroke was caused by a blood clot on the right side of Mr. Markle’s brain.
He was taken to a hospital near his home in Rosarito, Mexico, from where he was transferred by ambulance to the US border, where an ambulance was waiting to take him to a hospital in San Diego, California. He stayed in a critical-care ward all week and what a doctor told him was ‘remarkable progress’.
While he is now able to speak a few words, he faces ‘an uphill battle’ to regain his speech power.
He has since been separated from his daughter and has never met son-in-law Prince Harry or his three-year-old grandchildren Archie and 11-year-old Lillibet.
He wrote, ‘I have to work very hard and will do it. ‘I just wanna be ok. I am so lucky to have received wonderful care and love. Thanks to all of you.’
Mr Markle was forced to miss her daughter’s wedding to Prince Harry in 2018 after she had twice suffered heart attacks a few days earlier.
He blamed them for the tension he faced after the paparazzi posed for photographs to improve his image.
He has since been separated from his daughter and has never met son-in-law Prince Harry or his three-year-old grandchildren Archie and 11-year-old Lillibet.
Mr Markle will be looked after by his 56-year-old son Tom Jr., who spent 11 hours a night with his ailing father. Tom Jr. said, ‘When I got the call, I was going to visit my son and his family in Oregon.
‘I’ll be here for Dad and do whatever it takes to help him on his way to recovery. It has been a terrible shock for all but Dad is a strong man and he is determined to recover.
‘He has already started working with a speech therapist and is making great progress. We have received hundreds of messages of support from people around the world.
‘We are so grateful for the outpouring of love for Dad.
‘I am here for him as long as it takes.’