Thomas Markle hung up on Prince Harry during heated phone call - and fears Meghan will never speak to him again
The Duchess of Sussex’s family is making headlines again after Meghan Markle‘s father revealed he hung up on Prince Harry during a heated phone call just days before the royal wedding.
Claiming he was admonished by his soon-to-be son-in-law for staging paparazzi photos at a suit fitting, Thomas Markle said the heated phone call took place while he was recovering in hospital.
While he admitted Prince Harry‘s criticism was ‘absolutely right’, he was ‘hurt’ it came so soon after his heart attack.
According to Markle‘s interview with The Mail on Sunday, the Prince advised him against working with media agencies.
“Harry told me that I should never go to the press. That it would end in tears. He said, ‘They will eat you alive.’ He was right,” claimed the royal’s father-in-law.
Markle admits he ended the call after the Prince reminded him the drama could’ve been avoided.
“Maybe it would be better for you guys if I was dead… then you could pretend to be sad,” he said. “Then I hung up.”
In the interview, Markle admits he lied to Harry when he said the photos weren’t staged.
Claiming he was being “measured for a hoodie,” the 74-year-old says he understands why the royals were upset.
Markle also revealed he fears he will never see – or speak to – his daughter again. Believing he will be “locked out” due to his recurrent media interviews, he admitted he hasn’t spoken to the Duchess since the day after her wedding.
Stating Kensington Palace has “locked the door, pulled the windows down and closed the shades,” he continues to defend his decision to speak publicly about his daughter and the royal family.
“I want to say good luck and God bless to my daughter. I don’t expect to see her or hear back from her — and that’s OK,” he told The Sun.
“All I was doing was saying things I wanted to say. I just want to re-establish the relationship with my daughter.”
Regularly criticising the royal family and sharing private conversations with his daughter, the retired television lighting director has rarely been out of the spotlight since the royal wedding.
While some may argue Markle’s perspective provides some insight into his daughter’s life before the royals, his consistent press appearances have seemingly pushed him further from a reunion.
Shedding an unfavourable light on the Duchess of Sussex, Markle’s tell-all interviews have painted an unsavory picture of the royals. Claiming the Duchess is ‘terrified’ in her royal life and dishing on private conversations, he has undoubtedly caused the newlywed royal embarrassment.
The royal family – as well as the Duchess of Sussex, herself – have yet to comment on Markle’s claims, and whether she plans to visit her father is unknown as the palace hasn’t provided comment.
A reconciliation may never be revealed – unless Markle continues to share with the press, and he has claimed Sunday’s interview was his last.
“I’m not mad at Harry. I’m not mad at Meghan. I love them. I wish them well. But as for the rest of it, f**k it. I’m done.”
One PR expert believes the royal family could have avoided this public debacle had they properly incorporated Markle into the royal practices in the first place.
“There’s a duty of care when you enter the royal family and for me it felt like they really messed up there,” Nick Ede told Yahoo UK.
Family relationships are often complicated – but there may still be a chance Markle and his daughter will overcome their differences to work it out, royal titles removed.
As for the Duchess’s mother, Doria Ragland, one friend has revealed the 61-year-old has plans to move abroad to be closer to her daughter. This past May, she left her job as a social worker in Culver City, Los Angeles, and has a security guard at her side.
Claiming Ragland and her daughter are inseparable, the source says Ragland is eager to become a neighbour to the royal newlyweds.
“She also fell in love with England and told me when she got back that it’s somewhere she believes she too could happily live,” said the source.
“I think this has been coming for a while. Even before the wedding she told me how she misses her Megs so much she would do anything to be closer to her, especially now Meghan will be starting a family of her own.”
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