Meghan's father moves out of intensive care as duchess hopes her letter will soon reach him

The Duchess of Sussex was hoping to have a letter delivered to her father in hospital now that he has been moved out of intensive care following surgery to amputate his leg in the Philippines.

Thomas Markle was relocated to a regular ward on Monday after his surgeon called the operation "a success" while insisting there was "no option but amputation".

Attempts by his estranged daughter to get in contact have so far been futile but a source now claimed Meghan had identified the hospital where he was recovering.

Markle was rushed to hospital in Cebu, where he has been living since January, and underwent the emergency surgery last Wednesday.

The 81-year-old gave an interview from his hospital bed on Sunday, claiming Meghan had not called him or the hospital. He told media he wanted to see his daughter "one more time before I die".

On Friday, a spokesperson for the duchess confirmed she had emailed him after having lost her father's phone number.

But the email address was said to be out of use.

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A source later claimed the duchess had personally called hospitals in the region searching for her father.

It was now her intention to have a letter delivered to Markle now that she had identified which hospital he was being treated.

On Monday, a source close to Meghan said: "There's been progress, but she hasn't made contact [yet] … It's hoped and expected that there will be some form of communication in the next 24 hours", The Times reported.

Markle is expected to remain at the teaching hospital until at least the end of the week before moving to a rehabilitation centre.

He and Meghan have not spoken since before she married Prince Harry in May, 2018.

Father and daughter became estranged after he was caught staging paparazzi photos in the lead up to the royal wedding.

He was unable to attend the celebrations at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle after suffering two heart attacks in the lead up. King Charles walked his daughter-in-law down the aisle instead.

Markle has not met Prince Harry, nor the couple's two children Prince Archie, who is six, and Princess Lilibet, four.

Markle told the Daily Mail from his hospital bed: "I feel so sad that our family has grown so far apart.

"I hope that this might help tear down the walls between us and bring our family back together. It's time to set aside the past and make our family whole again. Please let bygones be bygones."

He also expressed his appreciation at the medical staff in the Philippines who had saved his life.

"I am thankful for the excellent care I have received here in Cebu and for the wonderful Filipino doctors and nurses who saved my life," Markle said.

His surgeon, Dr Neil Sanico, said: "The surgery was a success and the wound is healing well. Mr Markle is making good progress.

"He has a long road to recovery ahead of him but moving out of the ICU and into a regular room is a positive step.

"There was no option but amputation. The clot was so large we could not risk removing it first and then having the infection from the foot spread around his body and cause sepsis. There was a danger of gangrene setting in."

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