Meghan Markle urged to ‘swallow her pride’ before it’s too late

Meghan Markle is playing a “dangerous” game — and royal experts agree she’s going to have to make a major call, very soon.

Meghan Markle has been battered by damaging headlines, rumours of a royal rift, “controlling behaviour” and her own father who continues to harass her.

It has been a sudden shift for the 37-year-old American who went from being an actress to a duchess this year and has had the world watching her every move.

And what she does next will be no exception.

There is a growing feeling among royal watchers that Meghan will soon have to address the issues her father Thomas is creating, for fear of it spinning completely out of control.

Yesterday he appeared on Good Morning Britain — and delivered the Piers Morgan hosted show its highest ever ratings — and declared Meghan “controlling”, admitted he texts her daily and said he wanted the Queen to personally intervene in their family affairs.

“I’m very disappointed by it. I’m not sure why it’s happening. I’m reaching out … every day I try and text her and just haven’t had any comment back,” he said yesterday.

A source told The Mirror, Mr Markle’s latest interview has sparked “crisis talks” between Meghan and Kensington Palace aides, who are “enraged yet exhausted” and believe he has “gone a step too far” by drawing the Queen into the drama.

“The Queen is a dignified woman. Even if she disagreed with the way her grandson’s wife or indeed her staff were dealing with the matter, she would certainly not become involved on this level,” the source said.

Courtiers are reported to be “deeply concerned” about Thomas’s vow to carry on making public statements in a bid to reconnect with his daughter.

Robert Jobson, one of Britain’s leading royal commentators and royal editor of London’s Evening Standard, told news.com.au the situation needed to be resolved quickly.

A very pregnant Meghan Markle at Brinsworth House on Tuesday.

Thomas Markle during his appearance on Good Morning Britain.

“There is only one way to stop the Markle Debacle and that is for Meghan to swallow her pride, forgive her father for his transgressions, ask him directly not to do any more media and then move on.”

She should just send him a Christmas card and let him know she could hear him.

Jobson — author of Charles at Seventy: Thoughts, Hopes and Dreams — said Mr Markle wasn’t in the best health and had “made mistakes”.

“Some say he is attention seeking. He may be all of these things, but he is her father and she should heal this rift before its too late.”

He thought Meghan was playing a “dangerous” game and would regret not speaking to him if he died before they reconciled.

He said the duchess was still hugely popular, and believed the stories about her recently was just “speculation”.

Video: “I’m looking very pregnant today” laughs #Meghan #DuchessofSussex as she meets some of the residents @RoyalVariety Brinsworth House. The nursing and care home looks after those who’ve worked in the entertainment industry pic.twitter.com/w2cY0zSi4I

— Emily Andrews (@byEmilyAndrews) December 18, 2018

Majesty magazine editor Ingrid Seward wrote yesterday of how determined Princess Diana was to never speak to her mother Frances Shand Kydd after she gave an interview about her divorce from Prince Charles.

“I hate my mother. She has discussed my private situation publicly and I will never speak to her again.”

The princess was killed months later in a Paris car crash.

Seward told theMirror it was obvious Meghan had no intention of changing course and contacting her father.

There are rumours of a rift between Kate and Meghan.

“Sometimes it is easier and less painful to cut family out,” she said, noting it was clear she believed her words — if they did speak — would be told to media.

“You cannot blame her — (Thomas) Markle has repeated private and personal details of conversations. He is not to be trusted — but now there is a big IF. Why didn’t Meghan and Harry meet up with him over a year ago before their engagement? Meghan must have known her father was sensitive. Now she has created a rift between them bigger than the Grand Canyon.”

Seward thought the only way the pair could reconcile was with the help of a skilled go between, but doubted it would happen. And the damage to the monarchy would just increase each time the feud played out in public.

Several royal correspondents have suggested the tension between Meghan and her father was around long before she joined the royal family.

The Daily Mail’s Rebecca English wrote on Twitter: “Personally I have never been able to understand why Harry didn’t meet his girlfriend’s father, either before or after the engagement. But as I say, families are complicated and it does suggest the rift between Meghan and her father runs deeper than simply marrying into royalty.”

Royal aides have reportedly begun discussing the issue again, with Kensington Palace’s concern said to be that the Queen has been dragged into the row.

Meghan gave no hint she was troubled by the controversy when she made her latest public appearance at a Royal Variety care home, her last appearance before Christmas.

The house provides residential care for people from the entertainment industry who need assistance as a result of old age, illness, or hard times.

The Duchess of Sussex is about to have her first Christmas as a member of the royal family. Picture: Dylan Robinson

She touched her baby bump and told residents she felt “very good” and “very pregnant today”.

Her prominent bump set off rumours she was due earlier than expected — it had been believed the Duchess was about five months pregnant and due in April.

During the solo visit, Meghan asked an elderly woman: “Do you have kids?”

The woman could be heard saying: “No, I had a career.”

Meghan replied: “Yes, that I understand.”

When one resident told her that they are “all great friends”, Meghan replied: “I hope I can join the club”.

As she walked into the centre she smiled and waved to onlookers, and wished them a merry Christmas.

Just how happy it will be will largely depend on whether her family stop creating trouble for her.

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