Rare sighting of Thomas Markle, father of Meghan Markle at LAX

Meghan Markle’s father has been spotted catching a flight amid claims that the Sussexes will be attending the coronation for one huge reason.

The frail-looking father of Meghan Markle has been spotted heading to catch a flight at Los Angeles International Airport in a rare sighting.

Thomas Markle was being pushed in a wheelchair through LAX by an airport worker as his son, Thomas Jnr, walked along beside him with a suitcase.

It has not been confirmed where they were flying to, but both father and son have made numerous TV appearances over the years in the US and UK, criticising Ms Markle.

Thomas Markle is in pushed through LAX in a wheelchair as his son Thomas Jnr walks along beside him. Picture: LionsShareNews / BACKGRID

The 78-year-old, who suffered a stroke last May, has been estranged from his daughter since he was found to have staged paparazzi photos just days before her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.

The former Hollywood lighting director lives a modest lifestyle in the small town of Rosarito in Mexico, a four-hour drive from the Sussexes’ lavish mansion in California’s Montecito.

Meghan Markle has been estranged from her father since the drama-filled days before her wedding. Picture: Getty Images

As speculation continues to mount over whether the Sussexes will fly to London for King Charles’ coronation, one royal expert believes their attendance is a certainty.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the pair will go to the May 6 coronation in order to remain current and marketable in a bid to net their next Netflix deal to pay the bills.

He said the exiled royals were stalling on publicly announcing their decision to raise their profile and reverse dwindling popularity polls in the UK and the US.

“The Duke and Sussex are all about controlling the narrative,” he said.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been invited to the coronation but have not yet confirmed if they will attend. Picture: Getty Images

“Officially using the title princess to announce their daughter Lilibet’s christening, before Buckingham Palace had a chance to update its website with an official announcement, is part of a grand plan to make full use of their royal connections to ensure they‘re not seen at outcasts — Netflix wouldn’t like that.”

The royal expert said the Sussexes would not want to miss out on the historic event.

“Prince Harry and Meghan were always going to come to the coronation, to not attend would be career suicide,” he said.

“What makes them media marketable is their royal titles, that’s their currency, and they know they need to remain current and marketable for the next Netflix, Spotify or book deal.

“They only have a small window before the coronation to control the narrative so they’re deliberately dragging out announcing their decision.”

Prince Harry and Ms Markle have confirmed King Charles’s office has invited them to attend the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, but the couple have not yet announced if they have accepted.

The Sussexes will want to attend the coronation in order to stay relevant, a royal expert says. Picture: Getty Images

The pair are now more unpopular than Prince Harry’s scandal-plagued uncle Prince Andrew, according to a February poll of Americans by Newsweek.

Prince Harry’s popularity has plummeted 48 points since December – giving him a net approval rating of -10, according to the poll.

The Duchess has also become less liked by Americans, with her net approval rating falling 40 points to -17.

It comes after the release of the Duke of Sussex’s explosive memoir Spare in January, which exposed private details about the royal family and Prince Harry’s childhood

The 38-year-old prince has conducted a string of lucrative interviews, documentaries and reality shows promoting his memoir and deals.

They Sussexes also reportedly netted more than £100 million (AUD$183m) in a multi media Netflix and Spotify deal after quitting as senior working royals.