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youtube.com/Entertainment Tonight / Getty Images
youtube.com/Entertainment Tonight / Getty Images

Meghan Markle's Troubled Relationship With Dad Thomas and All the Drama That Has Played out in the Public Eye

Bettina Dizon
Feb 07, 2020
12:15 P.M.

Meghan Markle has had a series of terrible encounters with her father, who eventually became estranged to the new royal.

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Recently, Meghan Markle hit the front page with her “Megxit” from the British royal family, causing a stir in the press and social media.

Since the day she said “I do” to Prince Harry, the former “Suits” star has been living under a microscope with unwanted scrutiny from the public.

Among the things that were fished out from her personal life is her strained relationship with her father, Thomas Markle, who was not in the picture of her fairytale-like love story.

Meghan Markle as Rachel Zane. | Source: Getty Images

Meghan Markle as Rachel Zane. | Source: Getty Images

Their complicated relationship hit the media several times, including questions as to why Thomas was not present to his own daughter’s wedding. Here are a few things about their relationship known so far.

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DAD IN FULL SUPPORT

The Markle father-daughter relationship was once less complicated than it is today. Although the royal’s parents divorced at a young age, he took care of her and helped her in school productions.

Meghan Markle attends a reception to celebrate the UK and South Africa’s important business and investment relationship. | Source: Getty Images

Meghan Markle attends a reception to celebrate the UK and South Africa’s important business and investment relationship. | Source: Getty Images

More than supporting the actress’ career, Thomas paid for Markle’s private school education and a big chunk of her college tuition.

When it came to acting, the estranged dad pulled strings to get his daughter a part in “General Hospital,” where he worked as a lighting director.

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ABSENT FROM THE ROYAL WEDDING

Among the big issues that surfaced about Markle and her father is her no-show during her big day. Initially, the duchess planned to have him walk her down the aisle, but things changed after paparazzi photos emerged.

Pictures of Thomas getting fitted while reading a book about Britain were revealed to be staged shots, and out of embarrassment, he no longer wanted to appear at the wedding.

Meghan Markle arrives at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle for her wedding to Prince Harry. | Source: Getty Images

Meghan Markle arrives at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle for her wedding to Prince Harry. | Source: Getty Images

However, the royal couple still wanted him to come, which he agreed to until his heart condition did not permit.

Vanity Fair reported about a source who saw the bride cry moments before the wedding at the thought of her father’s absence.

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REJECTING HIS DAUGHTER’S REQUEST

As Markle entered into a new life, more cameras were on her and journalists digging for news about the newest royal.

Given she was the hot topic, the newlywed begged Thomas not to speak to the press, which he did not follow several times.

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Thomas agreed to an interview with Piers Morgan on “Good Morning Britain” and shared about the coupe and Harry’s views on Brexit and Donald Trump, a breach of royal protocol.

He later had another interview with the Daily Mail, expressing his feelings about being cut out of Markle’s life. He said:

“What riles me is Meghan’s sense of superiority. She’d be nothing without me. I made her the Duchess she is today. Everything that Meghan is, I made her.”

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Thomas gave yet another interview to The Sun and again to “Good Morning Britain.” Initially, Markle kept her silence but spoke to her father about the issue.

A LETTER FROM THE DUCHESS

Markle penned a letter to her father in August 2018, which he took to the Daily Mail to show.

Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry visit Canada House, central London. | Source: Getty Images

Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry visit Canada House, central London. | Source: Getty Images

Thomas felt he had the need to defend himself from the scrutiny of the media and the public by showing the letter.

Admittedly, he received compensation for the interviews he gave but argued that he could have received more but refused.

Markle tried to keep silent about her father, especially since every word uttered can blow out of proportion with the media’s magic.

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