Meghan Markle’s estranged father, Thomas Markle, spent Christmas in a Philippine hospital marking early progress in his recovery after having his left leg amputated below the knee earlier this month.
The 81-year-old underwent the procedure after a massive blood clot cut off circulation to his left foot, leaving him in intensive care for five days.
He is now recovering in a rehabilitation unit in Cebu, where he moved earlier this year with his son, Thomas Markle Jr.
Despite the seriousness of his condition, Mr Markle said he had reasons to feel thankful over the holiday period.
He said: "I have much to celebrate. I am doing well and would like to thank all the people from around the world who have sent well-wishes."
He described his physical therapy progress, adding: "I'm doing physiotherapy every day and have managed to sit on the side of the bed and even stood on my one remaining leg with the help of a nurse and a walking frame.
That was a wonderful Christmas present. There is a long way to go but I am so grateful to the wonderful doctors and nurses who are taking such good care of me."
Christmas was spent at his bedside with Tom Jr., his girlfriend Rose, 28, and Mr Markle’s private nurse, Christine. Tom Jr. said his father is recovering well under the circumstances.
He said: "Dad's doing remarkably well considering what he's been through.
Rose and I visited him for Christmas and took him a card with tinsel and a few sweets taped to the inside.
He's on a special diet and has had to drastically cut back on sugar but the doctors said he could have a couple of candies to celebrated Christmas."
Tom Jr. explained that his father was able to leave his room briefly to join other patients, saying: "He was able to get out of bed and was taken by a wheelchair to a recreation room where he enjoyed food and entertainment with some of the other rehab patients. He's in good spirits, grateful to be alive and working really hard to get better. He a brave man and is determined to walk again with the aid of a prosthetic leg."
Mr Markle’s relationship with his daughter deteriorated just before her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, after he posed for paparazzi photographs and then suffered two heart attacks that prevented him from attending the ceremony.
Meghan walked partway down the aisle alone before being escorted by King Charles, a gesture Mr Markle has publicly praised.
He said: "I will always regret not being able to walk Meghan down the aisle but King Charles stepped in and I shall be forever grateful to him. It was an extremely kind and generous thing for him to do."
Mr Markle has claimed he later received an "angry" phone call from Meghan and Prince Harry while recovering from his second heart attack, which he says led to their estrangement. He also said he did not hear from Meghan after suffering a major stroke in 2022.
Following his recent amputation, Meghan reportedly sent him a letter through the local US consulate. The letter was delivered in the presence of a lawyer and videotaped.
Mr Markle has repeatedly said he hopes to reconcile with his daughter and meet his grandchildren, Archie, six, and Lilibet, four. He has never met Prince Harry.
Doctors expect him to remain in rehabilitation for at least three months as he learns to stand again using a walking frame, then crutches, before being fitted with a prosthetic leg.
Reflecting on the holiday, Tom Jr. said: "There's a long way to go but we had a lot to celebrate this Christmas."