Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, once played a significant role in the Duchess of Sussex’s life, but their relationship has soured in recent years.
Meghan previously shared that her passion for film and theater stemmed from her father, who worked as a lighting director and director of photography. He often brought her to film sets during her childhood.
“Every day after school for 10 years, I was on the set of Married with Children, which is a really funny and perverse place for a little girl in a Catholic school uniform to grow up,” Meghan told Esquire.
“There were a lot of times my dad would say, ‘Meg, why don’t you go and help with the craft services room over there? This is just a little off-color for your 11-year-old eyes,’” she recalled, highlighting the close bond they shared during those years.
Despite her familiarity with the entertainment industry, Meghan was determined to avoid being labeled as the typical “L.A. girl dreaming of stardom.” She pursued higher education at Northwestern University, where she majored in communication. Later, she expanded her academic focus to include theater and international relations at the university’s esteemed Evanston campus.
However, their relationship began to deteriorate in the lead-up to Meghan’s wedding to Prince Harry and remains fractured today.
Before the wedding, Thomas Markle staged paparazzi photos of himself preparing for the big day, appearing to read about Britain and shop for a suit. These staged images sparked controversy. Shortly afterward, Thomas experienced heart problems, which he said prevented him from attending the ceremony.
A few months later, he further strained relations by publicly criticizing the Royal Family, describing them as a “cult,” which reportedly deepened the rift with Meghan.
As a result of their estrangement, Thomas has never met his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. He learned about Lilibet Diana’s birth through media reports.
Thomas has claimed that when his health declined in 2022, neither Meghan nor Harry reached out to him.
Whether Thomas Markle will ever reconnect with Meghan remains uncertain. Only time will tell if they can mend their fractured relationship.