Meghan Markle’s estranged father Thomas ‘desperate’ to reunite and be forgiven

Meghan Markle’s estranged father and half-siblings united for a tell-all TV interview in the run-up to King Charles’ coronation. See what they had to say.

On the eve of King Charles’ coronation, Meghan Markle’s estranged father has told of his regret at staging and selling paparazzi photos right before her wedding to Prince Harry four years ago, while defending his leaking of a letter she wrote him to a British tabloid.

And stepsister Samantha Markle came out swinging once again, branding Meghan an “alleged narcissist” and her marriage to Harry a “toxic relationship”.

“I think he has the personality profile that perfectly enables someone with an alleged narcissistic personality,” Samantha Markle told 7NEWS Spotlight reporter Liam Bartlett.

“I think whether it’s PTSD or his seeming neediness over his mother, his history of being somewhat rebellious in his own life as the younger child in their family, competing always with his brother William, and never being happy.

“I mean, he has a similar personality in, not only the rebellion, the deceit, the denial, relying on substances to avoid accountability and real growth and responsibility. I think he’s enabled her, and I don’t think they are improving each other’s lives. I think it’s a toxic relationship because they’re co-dependent.”

Four years after Meghan Markle married into the royal family, her estranged father and half-siblings have come together for the first time to give an interview, with Thomas Markle Snr revealing he is desperate to be forgiven, make amends and meet his grandchildren.

Renowned for upstaging, if not sabotaging, the Duchess of Sussex’s new life, the timing of the Markle trio’s sit-down less than a week before Ms Markle’s father-in-law is crowned King Charles III comes as no surprise.

Thomas Markle seated with Samantha and Thomas Jr for their interview with 7NEWS Spotlight. Picture: Channel 7

Suffering the effects of a stroke he says he had in May last year, Thomas Markle Snr says he is desperate to reconnect with his daughter and meet his two grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet for the first time.

While the effects of the stroke have made speech difficult, Mr Markle reveals he would give anything for a conversation with Meghan.

“I wish that we could sit down and talk. I wish we could work out our differences,” he tells Spotlight’s Liam Bartlett.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2021 with offspring Archie and Lilibet who are yet to meet their mother’s father. Picture: Alexi Lubomirski

Thomas Markle Junior, also didn’t hold back.

“I feel sorry for him (Markle Snr), and I don’t think he should be deprived of his daughter that he basically dedicated the majority of the better part of his life to getting her in the position that she’s at and giving her everything she needs,” he said.

“Because if it wasn’t for his hard work and his love for her, she wouldn’t be where she’s at right now.”

Markle Snr agreed.

“I certainly spent a lot of my life with her and I don’t know how she can throw it all away,” he said.

Referencing the Oprah interview, when Meghan said she was an only child, and had “lost her father”, Samantha Markle hit back.

“We knew that she didn’t lose our dad, she iced our father and there’s a very big difference, it was deliberate,” she said.

“In my opinion, she would still be a waitress if it wasn’t for Dad.”

Markle Snr said he deeply regretted the staged paparazzi photos he sold before Meghan’s wedding, but defended leaking parts of a private five-page letter Meghan wrote him, saying his daughter had also “shared it with six other people”.

“It was a horrible letter. Very insulting and cruel,” he said.

“I thought I have to get my side into this too. I put out a little part of it. The other things in that letter is so hateful and so cruel that I wouldn’t put it out, and that’s more protecting her than myself.”

Thomas Markle Snr looks at a photograph of his daughter Meghan Markle, Duchess of Cambridge. Picture: Channel 7

The letter was a compromise, approved by the Queen, to the Duchess of Sussex visiting her father in person after he suffered the stroke for fear that a swarm of media would be too difficult to manage.

But Mr Markle claims the letter, although approved by the Queen, was never read by the monarch who died last September.

“The Queen never read this letter because … It was a horrible letter. Very insulting and cruel,” Mr Markle says.

Markle Snr said there were “other things in that letter that are so hateful and cruel”, and that he had been offered a lot of money for the full letter but vowed “I’ll burn it before I sell it”.

Thomas Markle Jr is grilled by Liam Bartlett for 7NEWS Spotlight to air on Channel 7 and 7Plus Sunday at 8.30pm. Picture: Ch 7

Mr Markle says he was hurt by the fact that his daughter didn’t travel to see him after suffering the stroke and speculates “if that doesn’t move her, what would?”.

When asked whether she would be open to talking to her younger sister, Samantha still seems to harbour a grudge, stating it would be Meghan, not her, who wouldn’t be open to a reunion.

“I don’t think she would do it without a motive … I don’t think she’s capable of empathy, remorse, or shame. I don’t think she could feel enough to apologise,” she tells Spotlight.

The Markles being interviewed for 7NEWS Spotlight. Picture: Channel 7

Markle Snr said there were “other things in that letter that are so hateful and cruel”, and that he had been offered a lot of money for the full letter but vowed “I’ll burn it before I sell it”.

He said he believed Prince Harry should “take the lead here and try to put us back in some way”. He was asked what he would say to Meghan if he could speak to her personally.

“Let’s go somewhere and talk. And I’d say, ‘What’s wrong? How can I fix this? How can I fix this?’ That’s all I can say. Of course, ‘I love you’,” he said.

“And by the way, Harry, nice guy. I love you for marrying my daughter. Meg, I love you. I love my grandchildren. I’d love to see them and am open to any kind of conversation.”

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Originally published as Meghan Markle’s estranged father Thomas ‘desperate’ to reunite and be forgiven