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.

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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 20:54 · olivia.petter]

It's nearly go time. So far, we know that Mr Markle will discuss how he learned that his daughter and Harry were expecting a baby over the radio, which he described as “almost a joke”.

He added that there is a possibility he may never see Meghan and Prince Harry in person again.

Who knows what else Mr Markle will discuss. Only time will tell...

[22 January 2020 20:58 · olivia.petter]

Addressing the fact that he was not present at his daughter’s nuptials to Prince Harry, the 75-year-old said he wishes to “apologise to the Queen and the royal family”.

[22 January 2020 20:59 · olivia.petter]

In the documentary, the retired television lighting director affirms his belief that some stories about him in the media have painted him in a negative light, saying that he wished to make the documentary, “because I want everyone to know that I’m not all the trashy things that are being said about me”.

[22 January 2020 21:03 · olivia.petter]

Channel 5 has changed its schedule especially so it could air this documentary

[22 January 2020 21:04 · olivia.petter]

Mr Markle hopes that Meghan and Harry will watch the documentary because he is a part of their family. "We should be talking," he told the cameras in the opening segment.

[22 January 2020 21:06 · olivia.petter]

"I don't know who she is now," Mr Markle says as an old photograph of the two of them flashes on the screen.

[22 January 2020 21:07 · olivia.petter]

Mr Markle has a memorabilia mug celebrating the birth of Archie Harrison, Meghan and Harry's son. He also has a biscuit tin with Meghan and Harry's photograph on it.

He just made a strange joke about their being Meghan and Harry-branded condoms.

[22 January 2020 21:08 · olivia.petter]

Meghan was born via C-section, Thomas says

[22 January 2020 21:08 · olivia.petter]

He has a collage of photographs of Meghan as a child and said he took photos of her almost every day "for years".

Mr Markle described Meghan as a "natural beauty".

[22 January 2020 21:09 · olivia.petter]

Thomas just showed an old photograph of himself to the camera and joked that he looks like Prince Harry in it.