Meghan Markle's father, Thomas Markle Sr., continues to express his bewilderment over the lack of contact with his son-in-law, Prince Harry, six years after the royal couple's wedding. In an interview with the Daily Mail ahead of his 80th birthday in July, Thomas shared his thoughts on his frosty relationship with his daughter and the Duke of Sussex.
Reflecting on his life, Thomas questioned why Prince Harry never made an effort to meet him, despite the resources and opportunities available to him. "When I reflect back on my life, as you do when you are approaching 80, that's one of the questions I cannot find an answer for," Thomas said. "Why didn't Harry ever come to meet me?"
Living in Rosarito, Mexico, Thomas expressed his confusion over Prince Harry's reluctance to visit him, especially when individuals within the royal household, such as Jason Knauf, the former communications secretary for Harry and Meghan, had urged him to do so. "He has the resources to fly around the world -- and does -- but why didn't he come to see me?" Thomas pondered. "What man gets married without meeting his wife's father?"
As of now, Prince Harry and Meghan have not publicly addressed Thomas' recent comments. The estrangement between Meghan and her father dates back to the time just before her royal wedding in 2018. Thomas was caught staging paparazzi photos, which led to a breakdown in their relationship. Days before the wedding, Thomas announced that he would not attend due to health issues, leaving King Charles to walk Meghan down the aisle at St. George's Chapel.
In a revealing 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan spoke about her feelings of betrayal and difficulty in forgiving her father. She explained that she could not fathom causing intentional pain to her own child, making it hard for her to reconcile her father's actions. "I look at Archie, I think about this child and I genuinely can't imagine doing anything to intentionally cause pain to my child," Meghan said. "I can't imagine it, so it's hard for me to reconcile that."
Over the years, Thomas has been vocal in his criticism of Meghan and Prince Harry, often speaking out in interviews. In a 2020 documentary, he accused the couple of "destroying" the royal family. However, in a 2023 interview with "7News Spotlight," Thomas made a public plea for reconciliation after suffering a stroke.
Despite his efforts, Thomas claimed that he still has not communicated with Meghan or Prince Harry, nor has he met his grandchildren, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3. As his 80th birthday approaches on July 18, Thomas expressed a glimmer of hope that he might hear from them. "I don't expect to hear from Meghan and Harry," he admitted. "I wish we could have worked this situation out. I was always ready and willing to do that."
Thomas also shared that he would be content with even a photo of his grandchildren. "I would be happy to get even just a photo at this point," he said. His comments reflect a yearning for connection and closure, highlighting the ongoing strain within the family.