Thomas Markle interview: Meghan Markle’s father accuses her of quitting royal family for money as he admits lying to Prince Harry

Thomas Markle admits to lies and says Meghan and Harry stepping away from royal life is ‘embarrassing’ for him

Meghan Markle's father accuses daughter of quitting royal family for money

Thomas Markle has spoken out about his fractious relationship with his daughter, the Duchess of Sussex, for the first time since she and the Duke of Sussex revealed their decision to walk away from the royal family and pursue a life in Canada.

In Thomas Markle: My Story, which aired on Channel 5 on 22 January, Mr Markle discusses his absence from the May 2018 royal wedding, the way in which he has been portrayed in the media and how he learned the news of his daughter’s pregnancy over the radio.

The 90-minute long programme was filmed at Mr Markle’s home in Mexico in October 2019 over a six-day period.

In the documentary, Mr Markle confessed to lying to Prince Harry about staging paparazzi photographs of himself in the days prior to the royal wedding.

The 75-year-old also said that the last time he spoke to Meghan was over the phone shortly after he had suffered a heart attack. It was during that phone call when he told the couple he was too unwell to attend the wedding.

At the end of the film, in a clip that was filmed just days ago, Mr Markle speaks about Harry and Meghan’s decision to step down from the royal family, which he claimed they did “for money” before going on to describe it as “embarrassing” for him.

Channel 5 states that the Sussexes did not respond when approached for comment on Mr Markle’s claims.

Follow The Independent’s updates below

Please allow a moment for the liveblog to load

Key Points

• Mr Markle denies being 'trashy' and fears he may never see Meghan again
• 'I lied to Prince Harry about staging paparazzi photographs," Mr Markle says
• Meghan Markle's race made it 'more exciting' for press to attack her, he claims

[22 January 2020 22:21 · olivia.petter]

"For her to suddenly forget me and suddenly do this 'ghosting' thing is very hurtful to me. I don't exist," Mr Markle said.

Mr Markle recalled how, prior to Prince Harry, Meghan would often quote her father in speeches, with one clip from Meghan speaking at a UN conference in 2013 showing her saying, "We need more men like my father".

[22 January 2020 22:24 · olivia.petter]

In August 2018, Meghan finally made contact with Mr Markle via a handwritten letter. This is the same letter that is currently the subject of a legal dispute between Meghan and the Mail on Sunday, which published part of the letter. Despite reports of a reconciliation between Mr Markle and his daughter, the letter urged Mr Markle to stop making contact with the press.

"There is no love or thought for me in this letter," Mr Markle said. "I felt like s***. I just wanted to hear something positive and it wasn't."

[22 January 2020 22:24 · olivia.petter]

Mr Markle said there are parts of the letter that are "too offensive" to him to put out into the world. 

He also described Prince Harry as "sensitive".

[22 January 2020 22:26 · olivia.petter]

Mr Markle said he profited from selling the letter to the newspaper and will continue to profit from discussing his relationship with Meghan.

"The royals owe me. Harry owes me. Meghan owes me," he said. "What I've been through, I should be rewarded for. My daughter told me that when I reached my senior years, she would take care of me. 

"It's time to look after daddy."

[22 January 2020 22:28 · olivia.petter]

Mr Markle said it's a "great possibility' he will never see Meghan again.

"I miss the way that she was. I don't know who she is now and that's a problem. The last time they might see me is me being lowered into the ground."

[22 January 2020 22:28 · olivia.petter]

Mr Markle thinks Meghan will be "upset" by this documentary.

[22 January 2020 22:33 · olivia.petter]

Speaking about Meghan's decision to quit the royal family, Mr Markle said it "looks like she's tossing it away for money".

"It's disappointing," Mr Markle said.

"When they got married they took on an obligation and that obligation is to be part of the royals and to represent the royals. This is one of the greatest long-living institutions ever. They're destroying it and they're making it shabby. It's kind of embarrassing to me."

[22 January 2020 22:34 · olivia.petter]

Mr Markle said he can't see Meghan reaching out to him, especially now that he has done this documentary.

"But I think both of them were turning into lost souls at this point," he said. "I don't think they know what they are looking for."

At the end of the programme, Channel 5 states that they put Mr Markle's claims to Meghan and Harry and received no response.

[22 January 2020 22:38 · olivia.petter]

[22 January 2020 22:47 · olivia.petter]

The responses to Thomas Markle's documentary have been very mixed on social media.

While many sympathise with him, others are not sure about his credibility and seem confused by the conflating claims made by him and Meghan and Harry.

You can read more about what the future looks like for Meghan and Harry below.