The father-daughter relationship has remained strained, with the Duchess of Sussex reportedly limiting her father’s access to his grandchildren as a result of their disagreement.

Meghan Markle, who became a member of the British royal family by her marriage to Prince Harry, has two children with him. While she remains close to her mother, Doria Ragland, her relationship with her father, Thomas Markle, has taken a different course, culminating in a well-publicized split.

Meghan and her father used to have a good relationship. In a 2021 interview, Thomas recounted an emotional reminiscence of his daughter’s 1981 birth, mentioning that he was the first to hold her.

Thomas Markle during an interview. | Source: YouTube.com/60MinutesAU
After marrying in 1979, her parents relocated to an affordable, tree-lined suburb in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley. Despite her tight relationship with both parents in her early years, Meghan’s family life changed after her parents split in 1987.

As she grew up, the popular figure pursued an acting career, finally meeting Prince Harry in 2016. However, in the middle of her burgeoning fame and high-profile romance, her father made a mistake by entertaining the media, which eventually strained their relationship.

During Meghan and Prince Harry’s engagement in 2017, Thomas experienced health concerns, including a heart attack only days before the wedding in May 2018. During this time, it was revealed that he would not be attending the wedding, which was due in part to his illness.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on November 27, 2017, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
In his absence, Prince Charles eventually led Meghan down the aisle.
In addition to his health issues, the father of three missed the wedding due to a reaction to staged images he sold to a photo agency. He claimed that he had no intention of harming Meghan or the Royal Family, but was irritated with the paparazzi who had constantly photographed him in unpleasant situations, often distorting him.