Meghan Markle's estranged father Thomas Markle had a fall in the days before suffering a suspected stroke that has left him unable to speak, it has been claimed.
It emerged yesterday that the 77-year-old had been taken to hospital after suffering a suspected stroke on Monday night.
He began experiencing pains at his home in Rosarito, Mexico, and paramedics were called.
The former lighting director had an oxygen mask strapped to his face and was transported to a hospital across the US border in Chula Vista, California.
And friend Karl Larsen, who Mr Markle has been collaborating with on the Remarkable Friendship podcast, has said Meghan's dad is currently unable to speak.
He told the Sun : "Thomas Sr thought he had a stroke and was taken to hospital.
“He wrote it down 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 is in a hospital in the Chula Vista area of San Diego. I’m here waiting to see him. I don’t know how serious it is yet."
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It comes as royal author Tom Bower, who is currently writing a potentially explosive biography of Meghan, revealed he had spoken to Mr Markle at the weekend - and he revealed he had suffered a fall, just days before he took ill.
Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, the author explained: "He was alright, but he'd just fallen over in Rosarito, he'd been shopping and he told me that some other people had helped him stand up.
"But he is a man who's already had heart problems and he wasn't feeling too good. On the other hand, he was very excited about coming to London for the Jubilee."
Mr Markle has not seen his royal daughter in years but has given several TV interviews about her marriage to Prince Harry since she joined The Firm. It's believed he hasn't met his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet.
He's also made a series of negative claims about Harry. Responding to the Duke's claims that the royals were "the family [Meghan] has never had", he said: "That was an insult and that was bulls***."
Mr Markle, who is separated from Meghan's mum Doria, was planning on travelling to the UK in the next few days for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Speaking in an interview with GB News, he said he was hoping to spend time with the royals, especially Prince Charles.
He said: "I'm looking forward to it. I'm going to show my respect for the Queen and I'm going to make sure the Queen understands my entire family respects the Queen and the royals and we admire them and we want them to know that is how we feel about them."
Mr Markle was unable to travel to the UK for Meghan and Harry's royal wedding in 2018 due to health issues. He was due to walk the bride down the aisle, but she instead made the walk along before being joined by her father-in-law Charles for the last few steps.
At the time, she said: "Sadly my father will not be attending our wedding.
"I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health.
"I would like to thank everyone who has offered generous messages of support. Please know how much Harry and I look forward to sharing our special day with you on Saturday."
