Meghan Markle’s father Thomas on their estranged relationship: ‘I never imagined her turning against me’

Prince Harry stands at a crossroads with King Charles and Prince William, with all parties confused about a possible reconciliation, even more so after the recent move on the Royal Family’s website.

Meanwhile, Meghan Markle has an estranged relationship with her father as well. She may be close to her mother Doria Ragland — who has allegedly ‘practically’ moved in with the Duke and Duchess — but her relationship with her father is as divided as ever.

Meghan Markle’s father attacks Prince Harry and feels ‘deep empathy’ for King Charles

Much has been said about Meghan’s relationship with her father in the last 6 years. While peace talks with the Royal Family are allegedly on the Sussex couple’s mind, a reconciliation between Meghan Markle and Thomas Markle is almost unlikely, according to Thomas.

Markle - who will soon turn 80 - has often talked about wanting to heal his relationship with Meghan. But there haven’t been any efforts from the other end.

Ahead of his 80th birthday on July 18, all Thomas Markle wishes for is to hear from his daughter but that may not happen. In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Thomas said:

I’ve never been one for birthdays, but I know the one person I most want to hear from, Meghan, won’t be in touch. I would love to meet my grandchildren, but I would be happy with a photograph at this stage.

In the interview, Thomas also looked back on simpler and happier times with Meghan as a kid. He recalled how Meghan would often come to his sets as an Emmy-award-winning Hollywood lighting director. Meghan lived full-time with her father from the age of 11 when her mother started an import-export business and travelled extensively. The two shared a great bond and their current relationship equation is strange for him. He explained:

The one thing I never imagined was Meghan turning against me at this point in my life. I thought she would always be there for me.

Thomas Markle draws parallels with King Charles

Thomas Markle has never met his grandchildren - Archie,5, and Lillibet,3. He thinks that both King Charles — who also rarely gets to see his grandchildren — are in the ‘same boat’.

Comparing himself with King Charles, Thomas emphasised that both the granddads are dealing with serious health issues and long to see their grandchildren. He shared that he would ‘love to speak to the king’ as he feels 'deep empathy' for him. Thomas added:

I would love to speak to him because I am sure he has as many unanswered questions as I do.

Neither of us deserves the treatment we’ve received. He is going through cancer treatment, and I’m not in the best of health.

I have so many questions I’d like to ask Meghan and Harry. The main one being, why have they treated not only me but the Royal Family and the King so badly…I never in my 80 years thought I’d be in the same boat as the King.

Thomas Markle attacks Prince Harry: ‘What man gets married without meeting his wife’s father?’

As the 79-year-old gets emotional about his age and his relationship with Meghan Markle, he also took a swipe at Prince Harry. Reportedly, Prince Harry has never met his father-in-law. Thomas remains confused about why Prince Harry couldn't come to see him when he has all ‘the resources to fly around the world.’ He questioned:

Why didn’t Harry ever come to meet me? He has the resources to fly around the world – and does – but why didn’t he come to see me, particularly when people in the royal household like Jason Knauf [Harry and Meghan’s former communications secretary] were urging him to do so? That has never made sense to me.

Adding:

What man gets married without meeting his wife’s father?

A rundown on what happened between Meghan Markle and her father

Meghan Markle and her father’s relationship was severely affected after the former Suits actress started dating Prince Harry. When the couple announced their engagement in 2017, Meghan’s half-brother Thomas Jr confirmed that their father ‘hates’ the attention Meghan’s new relationship has given the family.

In the months leading up to the Sussex wedding in May 2018, the father-daughter duo shared many ups and downs. According to Business Insider, Thomas Markle pulled out of the wedding informally many times before Meghan Markle released a statement confirming that his father wouldn’t be walking her down the aisle.

People Magazine reported that even Meghan found out her father wasn’t coming to the wedding through tabloids. Allegedly, Meghan claimed in the Sussex Netflix series: Harry & Meghan that her father had stopped picking up her calls and she was only trying to understand what was going on.

This comes after it was revealed that Meghan’s father took money to stage photographs for the paparazzi less than a week before the Sussex wedding. Reportedly, Thomas was approached by paparazzi agency who convinced him that doing this would be good for his image. After the tragic incident, Thomas repeatedly apologised to the couple for his actions. However, Meghan Markle appears to be having a hard time forgiving her father.

In her sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey on CBS Sunday, Meghan addressed the tensions in her family and her fractured relationship with her father. On being asked whether it ‘felt like a betrayal’ when she learned that her father is working with the tabloids. She told Oprah:

We called my dad and I asked him [about staging the photos] he said, 'No, absolutely not.’

I said, 'I just need you to tell me and if you tell me the truth, we can help,' and he wasn't able to do that. And that, for me, has really resonated, especially now as a mother.

Archie was 22 months at the time of the interview and Meghan was pregnant with Lillibet, reports People Magazine. Looking back at the entire incident with her father, she added:

I look at Archie, I think about this child [on the way], and I genuinely can't imagine doing anything to intentionally cause pain to my child. I can't imagine it. So it's hard for me to reconcile that.

Read More

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Sources Used

Daily Mail: EXCLUSIVE: Meghan's the one I want to hear from on my birthday, but here's why I know she won't call

Business Insider: Meghan Markle broke her silence on her father, Thomas Markle Sr. Here's a complete timeline of the drama

People Magazine: Prince Harry Blames Himself for Meghan Markle's 'Incredibly Sad' Relationship with Dad Thomas Markle

People Magazine: Meghan Markle Says Her Father Lied to Her About Talking to the Press: 'Hard for Me to Reconcile'