THOMAS Markle says he has “trouble believing” his daughter Meghan’s comments to Oprah Winfrey. The Duchess of Sussex was scathing about her dad – who has never met his grandson, Archie – accusing him of colluding with tabloids in the UK. What has Thomas Markle said about his daughter Meghan? Thomas Markle saw his daughter’s […]
THOMAS Markle says he has “trouble believing” his daughter Meghan’s comments to Oprah Winfrey.
The Duchess of Sussex was scathing about her dad – who has never met his grandson, Archie – accusing him of colluding with tabloids in the UK.
Thomas Markle saw his daughter’s interview with Oprah Winfrey when it was broadcast by CBS on Sunday, March 7.
He told Good Morning Britain afterwards: “I have trouble believing this. I really do.”
Thomas hasn’t spoken to Meghan since her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018.
He added: “I see things on my daughter’s face that nobody else ever sees sometimes.”
Thomas continues to deny colluding with the tabloids, saying he posed for pics to improve his image in the UK.
Meghan opened up about father’s “betrayal” by speaking to tabloids ahead of her mammoth wedding.
He annoyed her by staging several paparazzi photos earlier in 2018, and the former lighting director also took part in a string of damaging interviews.
Claiming his daughter has “cut him off”, Thomas made a slew of hurtful comments, including likening the royal family to Scientologists because of their “cult-like” behaviour and claiming Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana, would have “loathed” the way he was being treated.
The duchess told Oprah: “There was such an obsession about anything in my world, including tracking down my parents.
“And I did everything I could to protect both of them in that media frenzy,
“But for over a year, the UK tabloids were trying to find my dad, offering people so much money to try to find his address.
“Once they did, I remember being told there was a huge headline like, ‘We found him’ or ‘We’ve got him.’ You’re talking about someone’s father.
“And from that point, the tabloids, they moved into the apartment next door and across from him. Descended on this small town, which is giving him gifts. The whole thing brings us to where we are today.”
Oprah then asked Meghan if she felt betrayed by her dad to this day.
She replied that she did not know if she was comfortable “even talking about that”.
Meghan then added: “If we were going to use the word betrayal, it’s because when I asked him, when we were told by the comms team, this is a story that was going to be coming out, which, by the way, the tabloids had apparently known for a month or so and decided to hold until the Sunday before our wedding because they wanted to create drama, which is also a really key point in all this.
The Duchess of Sussex said that Thomas replied he had “absolutely not” been speaking to the press when she called to ask about it.
“I said, you know, the institution has never intervened for anything for us, but they can try to go in and kill this story.
“But if they do this once, we’re not going to be able to use that same leverage to protect our own kids one day,” she said.
Oprah replied: “So he basically lied to you.”
Meghan said she told her dad that she and Harry could help him if he told them the truth.
She added: “He wasn’t able to do that. And that for me has really resonated, especially now as a mother.
“And also me saying just full stop, if we use this to protect you, we won’t be able to protect our own children one day.
“Well, I’m talking about your grandchildren, so I can’t — I mean, I look at Archie.
“I think about this child and I go I can’t, I genuinely can’t imagine doing anything to intentionally cause pain to my child.”
Meghan’s dad was determined to attend her and Harry’s nuptials in Windsor even after suffering a heart attack in the build-up to the big day.
The retired lighting director, who lives in Rosarito, Mexico, said medics had told him his heart was “seriously damaged”.
Meghan released an official statement via Kensington Palace on May 17, 2018, which stated: “Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding. I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health.
“I would like to thank everyone who has offered generous messages of support. Please know how much Harry and I look forward to sharing our special day with you on Saturday.”
Thomas underwent heart surgery on May 16 2018, which was reported to have been “successful” after surgeons cleared a blockage in his heart, repaired the damage and put in a stent.
The Sun revealed that Meghan had made a series of anxious phone calls to her dad checking on his progress as he recovered from surgery.
He revealed on GMB how upsetting the situation was, saying: “They were disappointed, Meghan cried I’m sure, she did cry.
“And they both said ‘Take care of yourself, we’re worried about you’ and that the important thing was that I get better.”
He made it clear that he was happy for Prince Charles to take his place at the ceremony, saying: “I can’t think of a better replacement than someone like Prince Charles.
“He looked very handsome and my daughter looked beautiful with him.
“I was jealous.
“I wish I’d been there – I wish it had been me – but thank God he was there and I thank him for that… It might have been a treat for him as he never had a daughter.”
