Thomas Markle, the estranged father of Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has been making headlines since his daughter’s marriage to Prince Harry in 2018. However, despite all the media attention, there is one thing that Thomas Markle has never experienced – meeting his son-in-law and seeing his grandchildren.
Thomas Markle and Meghan Markle’s relationship has been a rocky one, with the two having a strained relationship for many years prior to her marriage to Prince Harry. Thomas Markle even missed his daughter’s royal wedding, citing health reasons, but it was later revealed that he had staged paparazzi photos and caused a rift between himself and his daughter.
Since then, Thomas Markle has given numerous interviews to the media, sharing personal details about his daughter and the royal family. However, he has never met his son-in-law Prince Harry in person, and has also not seen his grandchildren – Archie and Lilibet – in person.
According to sources close to the family, Meghan Markle and Thomas Markle’s relationship deteriorated further after the birth of her son Archie in May 2019. The two have reportedly not been in contact since then, with Thomas Markle expressing his longing to meet his grandchildren publicly.
In an interview with Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain, Thomas Markle opened up about his desire to meet his son-in-law and grandchildren. He said, «I would like to be a part of their lives. I would certainly like to meet my grandchildren. I’m a grandfather for God’s sake, I’m 76 years old.»
However, despite his pleas, Thomas Markle has yet to meet his son-in-law or his grandchildren. It is reported that Prince Harry has no desire to meet his father-in-law due to the damage he caused to his wife and his relationship with the royal family.
Many royal experts believe that Thomas Markle’s actions have caused irreparable damage to his relationship with his daughter and the royal family. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, royal biographer Angela Levin said, «I think he’s done real damage to her [Meghan Markle’s] relationship with Harry and with the royal family in general. He had a really golden opportunity to meet Prince Charles, maybe even Prince William, and touch base. And he didn’t take it.»
Thomas Markle’s absence from his daughter’s life has also been felt during important family events. When Meghan Markle gave birth to her daughter Lilibet in June 2021, Thomas Markle was not there to share in the joy of becoming a grandfather for the second time.
It is unclear if and when Thomas Markle will ever meet his son-in-law and grandchildren. However, one thing is certain – his actions have caused strain and tension within the royal family, and many believe he may have lost the opportunity to have a relationship with his daughter and her family.
Despite this, Thomas Markle remains vocal about his desire to meet his grandchildren and be a part of their lives. In a recent interview with 60 Minutes Australia, he said, «I will be disappointed that I don’t get to hold my granddaughter, but I hope that will happen soon.»
The absence of a relationship between Thomas Markle and the royal family is a sad reminder of the impact family dynamics can have, even on one of the world’s most famous families. As the rift between Meghan Markle and Thomas Markle continues, it is to be seen if they will ever reconcile and if Thomas Markle will finally get the chance to meet his son-in-law and grandchildren.
