The broken connection between Meghan Markle and her father, Thomas Markle, according to Prince Harry, is something he blames himself for and has “shouldered” responsibility for it. In their Netflix docuseries “Harry & Meghan,” Meghan, 41, and Harry, 38, discuss their relationship, family, royal life, and more in their own words. Harry, the Duke of Sussex, says, “It’s incredibly sad” how his wife and father-in-law became estranged.
Days before Meghan’s marriage to Prince Harry in 2018, the “Meg” and her dad had a falling out because Thomas Markle staged paparazzi photos with a British tabloid and, according to Meghan’s, lied to her about talking to the media. After it was revealed that several photo shoots had been staged with paparazzi in advance of the wedding, papa Markle made the decision not to attend.
Doria Ragland, Meghan’s mother, expressed her “complete shock” that her ex-husband “would become part of this circus.” Ragland said the media would capitalize, and that, “He would use this.” She added that this is not parenting, and you certainly don’t do that as a parent. The week before her wedding, Meghan claimed that her father wouldn’t pick up her calls.
Since the photographs were published in the UK, Meghan and her father have not talked, and their final communication was through text before her wedding at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle when he was recovering from a heart attack and heart surgery. Thomas Markle claimed on the television broadcast Good Morning Britain in March 2021 that he eventually hung up a call because Harry texted him, “If you had listened to me, this wouldn’t have happened to you,” and that is when they pretty much said their farewells.
Markle said that he felt that Harry was rude, and that was the reason he hung up on Prince Harry while recovering in a hospital bed after he had a stent placed in his chest.
Meghan’s friends recalled, “After the wedding she wrote him a letter. She’s like, ‘Dad, I’m so heartbroken. I love you. I have one father. Please stop victimizing me through the media so we can repair our relationship.’”