Inside Meghan Markle’s Estranged Relationship with Her Father Thomas

The Duchess of Sussex has been estranged from her father since before her wedding in 2018. Their rift began when he accepted money to stage photos for the paparazzi.

When news broke in November 2017 that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry had become engaged, another story emerged that her father, Thomas Markle Sr., had been "hiding in a seaside town" in Mexico.

According to his son, Thomas Markle Jr., the former lighting director was already a solitary man; however, the attention brought on by his daughter's relationship with a royal turned him into a "recluse."

"Dad never liked the limelight but since the news came out about Meghan and Harry he's become a total recluse," Thomas Jr. told the Daily Mail just days after the engagement announcement.

"I haven't seen him in years," he continued. "He hates the attention Meghan's romance has brought on to him. He loves her but hates the idea of being in the spotlight." British tabloids managed to track down Thomas Sr.'s residence in Mexico that December.

Photos of the patriarch carrying a pack of cigarettes and a four-pack of Heineken were published, prompting his daughter, Samantha Grant, to clarify that her father did not drink or smoke and had purchased the items for the security guards at his residence.

Days later, Thomas Sr. told The Mirror that he would love to walk his daughter down the aisle. "I'm very pleased. I'm delighted," he shared with the outlet. Then, in May 2018, Kensington Palace announced that he and Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, would have important roles at the wedding.

"On the morning of the wedding, Ms. Ragland will travel with Ms. Markle by car to Windsor Castle. Mr. Markle will walk his daughter down the aisle of St George's Chapel," the palace wrote at the time. "Ms. Markle is delighted to have her parents by her side on this important and happy occasion."

Two days before the wedding, however, Meghan announced that her father would no longer walk her down the aisle due to health issues. Thomas Sr. told TMZ that he had suffered a heart attack, but the outlet reported that the reason for his nonattendance at his daughter's wedding was due to a fallout.

The website claimed that the 81-year-old had staged several photoshoots with a paparazzi photographer. The Daily Mail even released security camera footage from an internet café that appeared to support the allegations. According to the outlet, the staged images were sold for up to £100,000.

They came after Kensington Palace issued multiple pleas to the media to leave Thomas Sr. alone and respect his privacy. Still, he had agreed to stage the photos hoping they would cast him in a positive light after the media captured him in unflattering positions.

He later admitted to the deed during an interview with Good Morning America, but shared that Meghan and Harry had forgiven him. "I'm a footnote to the greatest moment in history rather than the dad who walked his daughter down the aisle. That upsets me somewhat," he said.

In July 2018, Thomas Sr. revealed he was estranged from his daughter in an exclusive interview with The Sun. After his heart attack, he expressed his fear that he might die soon without patching things up with Meghan.

He then said, "If I had a message for Harry, it's 'get over it.' I'm your new father-in-law." Thomas Sr. went on to engage in several interviews, slamming both his daughter and the Royal Family. Sources claimed that Meghan was deeply hurt by her father's words.

But it wasn't until after she and Harry stepped back from their royal duties that she addressed his betrayal during their interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. By then, the couple had already welcomed their son, Prince Archie.

Meghan said she found it difficult to "reconcile" her father's actions because she "genuinely" couldn't imagine doing anything to "intentionally cause pain" to her child. "Look, they've hunted my mom down," she added. "And you've never heard her say a word. She's remained in silent dignity for four years, watching me go through this."