The Rift Between Meghan Markle and Her Father: A Strained Relationship That Keeps Them Apart
Once a central figure in Meghan Markle’s life, her father, Thomas Markle, played an influential role in shaping her love for film and theater. As a lighting director and director of photography, Thomas often brought Meghan to the sets of the shows he worked on, creating cherished memories.
“Every day after school for 10 years, I was on the set of Married… with Children, which is a really funny and perverse place for a little girl in a Catholic school uniform to grow up,” Meghan once shared with Esquire.
She fondly recalled her father shielding her from the more inappropriate moments on set, often directing her to help with craft services. Their bond was strong, and Meghan admired her father’s work ethic and dedication.
Despite her early exposure to the entertainment industry, Meghan was determined to forge her own path. She attended Northwestern University, where she studied communication and later double-majored in theater and international relations.
However, their once-close relationship began to fracture in the lead-up to Meghan’s wedding to Prince Harry. Thomas Markle became entangled in controversy after staging paparazzi photos of himself preparing for the wedding—pictures showing him reading about Britain and selecting a suit for the ceremony.
Shortly afterward, Thomas suffered heart issues, which prevented him from walking Meghan down the aisle. In the months following the wedding, he gave interviews criticizing the Royal Family, even referring to them as a “cult,” further straining his relationship with Meghan.
The ongoing fallout has left Thomas Markle estranged from his daughter and her family. He has never met his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, and reportedly learned about Lilibet’s birth through the media. In 2022, during a period of declining health, Thomas claimed neither Meghan nor Harry reached out to him.
Whether Thomas Markle will ever reconcile with his daughter remains uncertain. For now, their relationship remains frozen in a state of unresolved tension.
