Meghan Markle’s Father Speaks Out: The Heartbreaking Reason He’s Never Met His Grandchildren

Meghan Markle’s relationship with her father, Thomas Markle, has been under the spotlight for years. The two are no longer in contact, and Meghan reportedly does not let him see her children due to their ongoing conflict.

Meghan, now part of the British royal family after marrying Prince Harry, has two children with him. While she is close to her mother, Doria Ragland, her bond with her father has suffered, leading to a public estrangement.

Thomas recalls fond memories of their earlier years. In a 2021 interview, he said he was the first to hold Meghan when she was born in 1981. “I fell in love with her, and I’ve been that way for 40 years,” he said. Meghan also shared happy memories in an essay, revealing that her parents met in the late 1970s while working at a studio.

Thomas and Doria married in 1979 and raised Meghan in Los Angeles until their divorce in 1987. Meghan stayed close to both parents but eventually focused on her acting career and later met Prince Harry in 2016.

The rift between Meghan and Thomas worsened after he collaborated with the media during her engagement to Prince Harry. Just before their 2018 wedding, Thomas suffered a heart attack and did not attend the ceremony. He later expressed regret, saying he wished he could have walked Meghan down the aisle.

Prince Charles stepped in to walk Meghan down the aisle. Thomas later admitted he appreciated the gesture but was heartbroken he missed the moment.

Thomas also faced backlash for staging photos with paparazzi, which embarrassed Meghan and the royal family. He said he regretted the incident, explaining that he only wanted to improve his public image. However, this act contributed to the growing tension between him and Meghan.

Thomas’s health problems, including a stroke in 2022, have further highlighted the strained relationship. He shared that Meghan and Harry have not reached out to him, and he feels deeply hurt by being excluded from their lives and the lives of his grandchildren.

Meghan revealed in an interview that she tried to protect her father from the media, but he betrayed her trust by working with them. She said his actions hurt her, and their relationship has never recovered.

Despite the estrangement, Thomas believes he was a good father and hopes Meghan will reach out to him one day.

The tension between Meghan and Thomas mirrors Prince Harry’s rocky relationship with his father, King Charles III. After Harry stepped back from royal duties in 2020, he and Charles have had limited contact.

Harry’s memoir, Spare, which criticized Queen Camilla, further strained their relationship. While there have been reports of potential reconciliation, no significant progress has been made.

Charles reportedly hopes to reconnect with Harry, Meghan, and their children, potentially inviting them to Balmoral in Scotland. A royal source said this could be an opportunity for the family to reunite, noting, “Life is too short.”