Royal expert reveals truth about Meghan's irreparable rift with her dad

The Duchess of Sussex’s relationship with her father is beyond repair, says royal biographer Andrew Morton.

Speaking to Yahoo UK during episode three of The Royal Box, Andrew says there is “gap that will not be bridged” between 73-year-old Thomas Markle and Meghan thanks to “his behaviour.”

Andrew – who penned royal biographies Diana: Her True Story and Meghan: A Hollywood Princess – refers to the faked paparazzi shots Thomas was paid for in the lead up to the royal wedding.

“Talk about [a] loose cannon,” says Andrew. “He makes a lot of wrong decisions, and he made a big wrong decision shortly before the wedding.”

Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle Snr, during his interview with Good Morning Britain on 18 June inn which he apologised for fake paparazzi shots. [Photo: Good Morning Britain]
Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle Snr, during his interview with Good Morning Britain on 18 June inn which he apologised for fake paparazzi shots. [Photo: Good Morning Britain]

Thomas reportedly underwent heart surgery just days before the wedding, causing him to pull out. But Andrew suggests there was no intention of him attending the nuptials at all.

“Speaking to various friends of the Markle family, there didn’t appear to be anything in place to bring him over to England for the wedding, as though there’d been an agreement that he wasn’t going to go,” the biographer says.

Meghan’s mum Doria was by her side on her big day in May. Photo: GettyA
Meghan’s mum Doria was by her side on her big day in May. Photo: GettyA

“I find it extraordinary that here we have Thomas Markle Senior having a heart procedure and his daughter not going to see him.”

Andrew says there’s a “distance” between the pair now.

“There’s a gap that will not be bridged. You saw the way Doria behaved [at the royal wedding],” he says. “Very dignified, tear in her eye as she watched her glorious daughter walk down the aisle.”

Meghan, as a teenager, with her father [Photo: Splash]
Meghan, as a teenager, with her father [Photo: Splash]

By all accounts, the Duchess had a good relationship with her father when growing up – despite her parents divorcing when she was six.

While Meghan studied drama at Immaculate Heart girls’ school, Thomas Markle would often volunteer to help with the lighting for school plays and the aspiring actress spent time on her father’s sets after classes.

But something in their relationship must have shifted as an 18-year-old Megan confessed in a home video that she and her father weren’t on “the best of terms.”

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