Thomas Markle, the father of the Duchess of Sussex, has undergone emergency surgery and is in intensive care, his son has said.

The 81-year-old was rushed to hospital after falling ill at his home in the Philippines, according to reports.

His son, Thomas Markle Jr said: “My only wish is that Meghan shows my father some compassion. He is literally fighting for his life”.

Thomas Markle Sr.Thomas Markle, the father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is in intensive care in the Philippines his son has said. (60 Minutes)

Markle was now waiting to have another operation to remove a blood clot, Thomas said.

“I took dad to a hospital close to our home and they did various scans and the doctors said his life was in imminent danger,” he told the Daily Mail.

“They raced us by ambulance, with the sirens going, to a much bigger hospital in the centre of the city. My dad has undergone emergency surgery.

“I would ask everyone around the world to keep him in their thoughts.”

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Thomas Markle and Meghan Markle file photoThomas and Meghan in an undated photo. (AP)

He added: “My only wish is that Meghan shows my father some compassion. He is literally fighting for his life.”

Markle has had two heart attacks in the past, and a stroke, and moved to the Philippines in January after spending 10 years in Mexico.

He was prevented from attending the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan in May, 2018, due to heart issues.

King Charles, who was Prince of Wales at the time, stepped in to walk his daughter-in-law down the aisle of St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

The news was revealed just hours after Meghan’s Christmas special aired on Netflix featuring a cameo from Prince Harry.

His other daughter, Samantha, said: “He is a strong man, but he has been through so much. I am praying that he is strong enough to survive this.

“My father has been through two heart attacks, a stroke and an earthquake. I hope he can pull through this.”

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