Meghan Markle’s dad Thomas rushed to hospital after stroke

Thomas Markle is reportedly “unable to speak” after being rushed to hospital – but will Meghan visit him from her home just a few hours away?

Meghan Markle’s father has suffered a massive stroke which has left him “unable to speak.”

Thomas Markle, 77, fell ill in Mexico, where he lives, and was rushed by emergency ambulance to hospital overnight.

His son Thomas Jr, 55, and his daughter Samantha, 57, were by his bedside last night, with Samantha telling The Sun: “We are praying.”

The former Hollywood lighting director was reportedly planning to visit the UK next week to spectate the Queen’s Jubilee.

His estranged daughter Meghan, 40, and Prince Harry are also due in the UK for official Jubilee celebrations.

Thomas Markle has suffered a stroke. Picture: Nine Network

Thomas Sr was seen being wheeled to an ambulance on a trolley on Monday night, local time, before he was ferried across the Mexican border for treatment in San Diego, California.

He was said to have lost his speech following the incident, which sources said followed a mystery health scare last week.

His stroke was so serious he could only communicate by scrawling down messages on a piece of paper, friends said.

Thomas Jr was with their father when he fell ill in the Mexican beach resort of Rosario, where he lives.

In a statement, Samantha said: “My father is recovering in hospital. We ask for privacy for the family, for his health and wellbeing.

“He just needs peace and rest. Godspeed. We are praying.”

Meghan’s dad missed their royal wedding four years ago after claiming he had suffered a heart attack just days before he was due to walk her down the aisle.

Meghan has not spoken to her father since her 2018 royal wedding. Picture: Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Photographer Karl Larsen, who collaborates with Thomas Sr on their Remarkable Friendship podcast, said yesterday he was in San Diego waiting to see him.

Larsen, whose podcast often serves as an outlet for Thomas Sr to vent his frustration at Meghan and Harry, said: “Thomas Sr thought he had a stroke and was taken to hospital.

“He wrote it on a piece of paper because he can’t speak right now.

“He lost his voice, I don’t know why, so he had to write it down and he gave it to someone who he was with.

“He was just barely present enough to write on a piece of paper.

“We were due to leave for London to be there for the Jubilee on Monday. Now it’s all up in the air, I don’t know what will happen. I can’t possibly see how that would still be on.

“I was with Thomas when something very similar happened four years ago before Harry and Meghan’s wedding.”

A source told The Sun Thomas Sr had a medical scare last week. His relatives are believed to have been concerned about his health and particularly his blood pressure for some time.

When he met with The Sun earlier this year, the ex-smoker said he had been warned by his doctor never to puff a cigarette again.

Meghan Markle with her parents Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland. Picture: Thomas Markle: My Story

But a source close to the family told The Sun: “Tom never changed his diet after his heart attacks four years ago before Meghan’s wedding.

“He didn’t change his diet at all, he still eats a lot of fast food. He should have gone into hospital last week when he was first sick.

“No one expects Meghan to visit him, that’s so unlikely, even now.”

Thomas had hoped that he could be reunited with Meghan during his UK trip — and meet Harry in person for the very first time.

Sources told The Sun that on Monday, he was first taken to a hospital in Tijuana, before being transferred to the US. He was last night still in the hospital in San Diego — which is a four-hour drive south of Harry and Meghan’s mansion in Montecito.

In addition to excitement over his impending trip to the UK, Thomas is understood to have felt the pressure of online troll attacks over his recently-launched YouTube podcast.

He was set to be hosted by ex-I’m A Celebrity contestant and royal biographer Lady Colin Campbell for the Jubilee.

Thomas has forged a close friendship with Lady C — an outspoken critic of the Sussexes since they quit royal duty to live in the US.

Meghan’s dad has said before that he is a proud admirer of the Queen.

Thomas, who last month branded Harry an “idiot” who is “whipped” by Meghan, was expected to attend a number of “rival” Platinum Jubilee events with friends, sources say.

He has not spoken to his estranged daughter for four years and has never met his two grandchildren.

Meghan and Harry will attend the Queen’s jubilee. Picture: Sem van der Wal/ANP/AFP

Harry and Meghan have confirmed they will attend the Queen’s party with Archie, three, and Lilibet, who has her first birthday during the Jubilee weekend. It is thought they will be staying at Frogmore Cottage, Windsor Castle.

But the Queen has ruled they will not appear on the Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour as they are not working royals.

This story first appeared in The Sun and is reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Meghan Markle’s dad Thomas rushed to hospital after stroke