Thomas Markle, the father of Meghan Markle, is turning 80 in July and doesn’t expect any birthday wishes from his daughter or son-in-law, Prince Harry. He openly criticizes Harry, claiming the Duke of Sussex has never attempted to reach out to him. This strained relationship, according to Thomas, is entirely Harry’s fault. The rift between them has resulted in a complete disconnect, with Thomas not having spoken to his daughter in six years. He has never met Prince Harry and hasn’t had the opportunity to meet his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. He compares his situation to that of King Charles, who also lacks a relationship with his grandchildren. He feels both he and the King have been unfairly treated by their own families.
While Thomas yearns to hear from his daughter on his birthday, he acknowledges that it’s unlikely to happen. He also finds it baffling that Prince Harry has never made an effort to meet him. He questions why Harry, who travels the world extensively, couldn’t take the time to visit him. Thomas has not attended Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018 due to a paparazzi scandal. He was supposed to walk Meghan down the aisle but was involved in a controversy with the paparazzi just before the ceremony. Buckingham Palace attributed his absence to health issues, citing a heart attack. However, Thomas claims that Harry’s close circle, including Jason Knauf, Harry and Meghan’s former communications secretary, had urged Harry to visit him before the wedding. He questions why a groom wouldn’t meet his bride’s father before their marriage. Despite these unresolved issues, Thomas still feels the pain of being left out of his daughter’s life and his grandchildren’s lives.
