Meghan Markle’s relationship with her father, Thomas Markle Sr., has been fraught since the early days of her romance with Prince Harry, evolving into a long-standing estrangement that has played out publicly over several years.
The former Suits actress, now 44, is the only child from Thomas Markle Sr.’s eight-year marriage to Doria Ragland. He also has two older children — a son, Thomas Markle Jr., and a daughter, Samantha Markle from his first marriage to Roslyn Loveless, which lasted from 1964 until 1975.
The rift between Meghan and her father became public in the weeks leading up to her wedding to Prince Harry at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, on May 19, 2018. Thomas Markle Sr. had been expected to attend and walk his daughter down the aisle, but days before the ceremony he was accused of staging paparazzi photographs showing him being measured for a suit near his home in Rosarito, Mexico, reportedly in exchange for money.
At the time, the photos sparked widespread criticism and raised questions about Thomas Markle Sr.’s relationship with the media.
In a subsequent appearance on the British talk show Loose Women in May 2018, Samantha Markle claimed responsibility for suggesting the photographs. She said her intention was to counter what she described as unflattering portrayals of her father by the press and denied that the move was financially motivated.
Samantha said she believed the images would present her father as making positive, healthy life changes and reflect well on both him and the royal family. She described the media scrutiny surrounding her father as intense and said her suggestion was intended to portray him in a more dignified light.
Thomas Markle Sr. later acknowledged in a Mail on Sunday interview that he had misled Prince Harry when questioned about the photographs. He admitted telling Harry that he was simply being measured for casual clothing and said the future duke had warned him against cooperating with the press. Thomas Markle Sr. said the conversation became emotional and ended abruptly.
Despite insisting he held no resentment toward Meghan or Harry, Thomas Markle Sr. said he regretted the situation and recognized that Harry’s concerns about media involvement were justified. He was ultimately unable to attend the wedding after suffering two heart attacks in the days leading up to the ceremony, which required urgent medical treatment.
Meghan later offered her own account of the breakdown in her relationship with her father in the 2022 Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan.
She recalled confronting Thomas Markle Sr. directly about the allegations and said she felt unsettled by his responses. According to Meghan, she and Harry offered to have someone bring him to a safe location away from the media attention, but he declined, which further raised her concerns.
Prince Harry also reflected on the estrangement in the series, saying he felt a sense of responsibility for the change in Meghan’s relationship with her father. He said Meghan had previously enjoyed a close bond with Thomas Markle Sr. and suggested that media pressure and financial incentives offered to those connected with the royal family had played a significant role in the rift.
In the years following the wedding, Thomas Markle Sr. has repeatedly expressed a desire to reconcile with his daughter and to have a relationship with her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Both Thomas Markle Jr. and Samantha Markle have spoken publicly about their hope that the family can reunite, particularly for the sake of the children.
Thomas Markle Jr. has also publicly lamented that Meghan and Harry’s children have limited contact with extended family members, including their cousins in the royal family. He has described the loss of those relationships as particularly unfortunate, given the traditionally close bonds between royal cousins.
In December 2025, Thomas Markle Jr. confirmed that his father had been hospitalized in intensive care in the Philippines after doctors determined he was in imminent danger. According to his son, Thomas Markle Sr. was transferred by ambulance to a larger hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.
Following the procedure, a spokesperson for the Duchess of Sussex confirmed that Meghan had reached out to her father. While details of the communication were not disclosed, the contact marked a rare acknowledgment of the situation amid years of estrangement.
Thomas Markle Sr. has endured multiple health and personal challenges in recent years, including a stroke in 2022.
Earlier in 2025, he was also forced to dismiss reports that he had been trapped in his home following a powerful earthquake in the Philippines. He has said he moved to the country in part to escape persistent media attention related to his strained relationship with his daughter.
