The strained relationship between Meghan Markle and her father, Thomas Markle, was once a source of major concern for the Royal Family. According to royal author Tom Bower in his 2022 book Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors, both Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III attempted to step in and advise Meghan to repair ties with her father before her wedding to Prince Harry.
The Paparazzi Controversy Before the Royal Wedding
Tensions escalated when Thomas Markle, now 81, staged paparazzi photos of himself ahead of Meghan and Harry’s 2018 royal wedding. At the time, Thomas initially said he would walk Meghan down the aisle, but he ultimately did not attend the ceremony.
Bower noted that Meghan’s father quickly became a source of ongoing drama. Despite his repeated attempts to reach out, Meghan remained distant, reportedly having been estranged from him for years.
A Source of Frustration for the Royals
The controversy deepened when Thomas was accused of lying about his involvement in the staged photos. A week before the wedding, this revelation became the central narrative around Meghan’s family. Prince Harry recalled in his memoir that Thomas later sent him a text saying, “I am so ashamed.”
Reports also suggest that King Charles grew frustrated with Thomas’s public interviews and criticism of the Royal Family. He allegedly questioned why Meghan could not meet her father to put an end to the negative press, asking: “Can’t she just go and see him and make this stop?”
The Queen’s Attempt at Reconciliation
According to Bower, even Queen Elizabeth II was concerned about the fallout. She and Charles joined Meghan and Harry on a conference call, urging Meghan to consider flying to the United States to reconcile with her father. However, Meghan declined the Queen’s suggestion, maintaining her distance from Thomas Markle.
Ongoing Rift
The estrangement between Meghan and her father has remained one of the most publicized aspects of her personal life since joining the Royal Family. Despite efforts from senior royals to mend the relationship, the rift appears to have deepened over the years, with Thomas continuing to speak out in interviews while Meghan has largely stayed silent on the matter.
