In a recent revelation, Thomas Markle, the estranged father of Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has once again found himself in the spotlight. This time, he's making headlines for his fervent plea to reconnect with his daughter and meet his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Meghan Markle and her father have had a strained relationship since 2018, with the two not having spoken since Thomas staged paparazzi photos for monetary gain. This act, coupled with his decision to leak a personal letter from Meghan to a U.K. tabloid, The Mail on Sunday, led to a lawsuit and further deepened the rift between father and daughter. As a result of these actions, Thomas was absent from Meghan's wedding to Prince Harry, and he has yet to meet his grandchildren.
Royal expert Jack Royston weighed in on the situation, criticizing Thomas for being "attention hungry." Royston highlighted the fact that due to Thomas's decisions, he has not only missed out on pivotal moments in Meghan's life, such as her wedding, but he has also never met his grandchildren. This is particularly poignant as Thomas approaches his 80th birthday next year and has faced health challenges, including heart attacks prior to Meghan's 2018 wedding and a stroke in May 2022.
In a recent interview, Thomas expressed his anguish over not being a part of his grandchildren's lives. He mentioned the possibility of taking legal action in California to gain access to them but emphasized his reluctance to take such a step. "Put the past behind us and allow me to see my grandkids. In California, I can actually sue to see them, but I don’t want to do that," he stated. Thomas also expressed his belief that there was "no excuse" for Meghan's treatment of him and other grandparents in the family.
However, during Meghan's 2021 tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, she addressed the betrayal she felt from her father. She spoke of the "very clear directive" she had received to always say "no comment" to the media, a directive that included her friends and parents. Meghan also shared her feelings of loss, saying, "I grieve a lot. I mean, I’ve lost my father. I lost a baby. I nearly lost my name. I mean, there’s the loss of identity. But I’m still standing."
Despite the ongoing family drama, Meghan has emphasized the importance of forgiveness. In a conversation with The Cut, she said, "I think forgiveness is really important. It takes a lot more energy to not forgive. But it takes a lot of effort to forgive."
As the Markle family saga continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether father and daughter will find a way to mend their fractured relationship.