Why Meghan Markle’s Father Has Fresh Fears About the Duchess Returning to the U.K.
If you thought it was only a matter of time until we heard from Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle Sr., about what he thinks of his daughter going back to the U.K., you are correct and that time is now. Thomas has spoken to the U.K. media less than a week after the announcement that Meghan and Prince Harry are moving back to England.
Meghan and Thomas have been estranged for years, therefore, the 81-year-old shared that he heard about the news when the rest of us did, telling the Daily Mail, “I saw on CNN that they were returning to England. I found out about it at the same time as the rest of the world.”
Thomas, who had been living in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines in Cebu, until he had a below-the-knee amputation on his left leg after a blood clot, is residing in the U.S. again. He made the decision to return to the States to get prosthetics and for ongoing medical care. But now that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are moving back across the pond, Thomas feels any prospect of him ever meeting his grandchildren is slim to none.
“I’m hurt and upset that she doesn’t give a damn about me, even though I’m in hospital,” Thomas told the Mail. “Meghan used to love me. She was always a daddy’s girl, and now it’s like I don’t exist. I have never met my grandchildren, and now they are leaving America. One day those kids will ask about their ‘other’ grandfather — the one who isn’t king — the one that Meghan and Harry are apparently ashamed of. I hope they know how much I wanted to meet them.”
Meghan and her father reportedly have not spoken since right around the time she married Prince Harry. Weeks before her wedding to the duke, a photo scandal orchestrated by Thomas made news leaving questions about whether he would attend the royal wedding.
Just ahead of their big day, it was reported that Thomas suffered two heart attacks and would not be able to make it. Then-Prince Charles stepped in and walked Meghan down the aisle. That was the beginning of the end of their father-daughter relationship. Thomas began turning to the media and revealed that Meghan no longer talks to him and refuses to forgive him for his mistake.
“I will never stop loving my daughter, but I will never understand why she turned her back on me,” Thomas said.
After his hospitalization and life-saving surgery in Cebu in late 2025, the former Suits star said she contacted her father. However, Thomas and hospital staffers disputed that claim and insisted he did not hear from Meghan. A spokesperson for the duchess then clarified that she had “emailed her father” but reportedly wrote to an email address which had not been used “for at least five years.” Thomas then stressed that he “never uses email.”
In addition to Archie and Lilibet, Thomas has never met his son-in-law Harry either.
