Meghan Markle's father, Thomas Markle, is approaching his 80th birthday next month with one heartfelt wish: to speak with his daughter.
The estrangement between them, which has lasted several years, has cast a shadow over Thomas's later life, and his plea for reconciliation is both poignant and sad. Thomas shared his feelings with the Daily Mail, expressing the deep sorrow and confusion he feels about their estrangement. Thomas admitted, "I never expected to make it to 80 because Markle men never do. My father died at 61."
Reflecting on his life, he noted that his last few years have been overshadowed by his daughter's refusal to communicate with him and her decision to keep his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet, away from him. His words are filled with longing and a sense of missed opportunities: "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'd love to meet my grandchildren, but I'd be happy with a photograph at this stage."
The rift between Meghan and her father began in 2018. Two incidents contributed to the estrangement. First, Thomas admitted to making a mistake by selling photos of himself to paparazzi, an act seen as a breach of trust by Meghan. Second, Thomas suffered a heart attack shortly before Meghan's wedding to Prince Harry, which prevented him from attending. Meghan reportedly holds this against him, blaming him for not being there to walk her down the aisle. Despite living just a three-hour drive from Meghan's Montecito home in California, Thomas has not been allowed to meet his grandchildren. He expressed his frustration and sadness, saying, "That's one of the questions that I can't find an answer for." The ongoing silence from Meghan has left him baffled and hurt.
Thomas isn't the only one feeling the strain of this familial rift. He has never met his son-in-law, Prince Harry, a fact he finds astonishing given Harry's extensive travel and resources. Thomas questioned, "What man gets married without meeting his wife's father?" He recalled that individuals within the royal household, including Harry and Meghan's former communications secretary Jason Knauf, had urged Harry to meet him, but it never happened.
Thomas's health has also been a concern. He continues to experience side effects from a stroke he suffered two years ago, with speaking being particularly challenging. Despite his own health struggles, he expressed deep empathy for King Charles, who is similarly denied the chance to know his grandchildren. "Neither of us deserve the treatment that we've received," Thomas said, highlighting the shared plight with the King.
As he approaches this milestone birthday, Thomas has many questions for Meghan and Harry. He wonders why they have treated not only him but also the royal family and the King with such apparent disregard. His desire for answers and reconciliation is clear, yet it remains uncertain if his plea will be heard. GB News reporter Nana Akua has urged Meghan Markle to get in contact with her father before it's too late. "If there was ever a time to turn around your PR, this is it," Akua said, emphasizing the urgency of reconciliation.
Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that Meghan will heed this advice. Critics argue that Meghan has shown little interest in mending her relationship with her father. They speculate that she might wait until after her father's passing to make shocking claims, such as alleging that she was a victim of child sexual abuse. This narrative would further her victimhood and justify her treatment of her father, as he would no longer be able to defend himself. Some believe that Meghan's potential for manipulating public perception and using personal tragedies for her benefit is yet to be fully revealed. As the situation unfolds, only time will tell how far she is willing to go.
