In a revealing interview on Good Morning Britain, Thomas Markle, father of the Duchess of Sussex, claimed that his daughter Meghan Markle has “pretty much disowned both sides of her family” and called on her to “grow up” to mend the strained relationships.
The 77-year-old retired lighting director, who resides in Rosarito, Mexico, has been estranged from Meghan for nearly four years and has yet to meet his son-in-law Prince Harry or grandchildren Archie and Lilibet.
During the candid conversation with hosts Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid, Mr. Markle expressed his bewilderment at the current state of their relationship, asserting that Meghan “changed” when she met Prince Harry.
“You’re asking me a question that is four years old, and I can’t answer it. I don’t know what changed her.
“She’s never been that way before and once she hooked up with Harry, she changed,” he said.
Mr. Markle further elaborated on Meghan’s alleged disownment of her relatives, stating, “I understand that she hooked up with Soho Club and a different group of people, but she’s pretty much disowned both sides of her family, and I don’t understand the reason for it.”
He expressed confusion, citing the numerous instances where Meghan had praised him on her now-defunct lifestyle blog, The Tig.
The impact of the family estrangement on Meghan and Harry’s children was a point of concern for Mr. Markle.
“The kids are going to grow up without knowing that they have two families.
“This is more than just me and my daughter now, this is me and my daughter, her husband and two babies involved now, so it’s time to do something. It’s time to talk,” he emphasized.
Mr. Markle also criticized Prince Harry, claiming that “all he does now is ride a bicycle around the neighbourhood he lives in” Montecito, California.
He referred to photos of Harry riding an electric bike with his security team following the explosive Oprah Winfrey interview in March.
When asked about the possibility of legal action to see his grandchildren, Mr. Markle revealed that while lawyers in California had suggested he could sue for visitation rights, he decided against it, not wanting to use the children as “pawns.”
He expressed his desire to see Archie and Lilibet with “friendly parents and friendship all around.”
Commenting on Harry’s upcoming memoir, Mr. Markle quipped that it should be titled “Finding Money” instead of “Finding Freedom,” alleging that financial gain is the couple’s primary motivation.
He also criticized Harry for “insulting” and “shaming” his 95-year-old grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, with the book.
Mr. Markle disclosed that he last attempted to contact Meghan about a month ago but refrained from visiting Montecito due to concerns about being labeled a stalker.
He emphasized the importance of the children knowing about their two loving families and their great-grandmother, the Queen of England.
The interview ignited mixed reactions from viewers, with some criticizing the media for providing Mr. Markle a platform to “trash Meghan,” while others sympathized with his desire to reconnect with his daughter and grandchildren.
As the rift persists, the path to reconciliation remains uncertain for the Markle family.
