‘Hurt’ Thomas Markle Breaks Silence as Meghan’s UK Return Nears — ‘She Doesn’t Give a Damn About Me’
Markle Sr. has expressed hurt over the decision and lamented the future without the chance to meet his grandchildren.
Thomas Markle and Meghan have shared a fractured relationship for years, although it has been reported previously that the Duchess's team recently reached out to the ailing father after hearing the news of his leg amputation. Markle Sr. has been candid about their crumbling connection; time and again, he has voiced his displeasure over their distance through media interactions. Now that the Duchess has prepared to return to the UK again, Markle Sr. has expressed hurt over the decision and lamented the future without the chance to meet his grandchildren. "I saw on CNN that they were returning to England. I found out about it at the same time as the rest of the world," he emotionally told the Daily Mail.
The 82-year-old, who is recuperating from the surgery in an American rehabilitation facility, stated, "I'm hurt and upset that she doesn't give a damn about me, even though I'm in hospital." He continued by recalling their strong bond and how the Duchess always used to be a 'daddy's girl'. But he sadly reflected on how the relationship has soured, leading to feelings of exclusion, especially as he has never met his grandchildren, who are now set to leave America.
"One day those kids will ask about their 'other' grandfather – the one who isn't King – the one that Meghan and Harry are apparently ashamed of," he stated. "I hope they know how much I wanted to meet them," he added. Markle had an amputation in December due to a serious blood clot while living in the Philippines. After surgery, he returned to the U.S. and expressed disappointment that his daughter did not visit him. Their relationship had taken a fall after he posed for paparazzi before her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.
"I will never stop loving my daughter, but I will never understand why she turned her back on me," he added. According to the Daily Mail, right after his surgery, Markle Sr. had sent out an emotional plea to his daughter, stating that he "didn't want to die estranged." Following the amputation of his left leg below the knee, he had urgently appealed to the Duchess for a final meeting, expressing a desire to see his son-in-law, Prince Harry, and grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet, before he passed away.
The ailing father highlighted that he had kept his phone number unchanged despite the feud so that the Duchess could reach out to him anytime, but unfortunately there was no response from the Sussex side. The publication confirmed that neither the hospital nor the staff had heard from Meghan or her representatives.
However, the Duchess's side refuted Markle Sr's claims and confirmed to PEOPLE! that she had indeed contacted her father. "With the support of reliable and trusted contacts, her correspondence is now safely in his hands," a spokesperson stated. With recent developments, it remains to be seen how the Duchess will react to his distress pleas and facilitate a meeting with her family.
