Meghan Markle ‘to be grilled about fractured relationship with dad Thomas’ in explosive Oprah interview
MEGHAN will be grilled about her fractured relationship with her dad Thomas Markle during her explosive Oprah interview, sources have told The Sun on Sunday.
It will mark the first time she has publicly discussed her father, who she has not spoken to since before her wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018.
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Bosses at ITV — which screens the Oprah chat tomorrow after its US airing — have provided hours of footage of their interviews with Thomas, 76, to broadcaster CBS.
It means network chiefs could cut in scenes showing Thomas criticising Meghan and Harry — before Oprah grills her about the relationship.
And next week Thomas has been booked to appear on ITV’s Good Morning Britain to talk about the bombshell Oprah chat.
Thomas, an ex-Hollywood lighting director, has never met his son-in-law Harry or his 22-month-old grandson Archie, and has been a fierce critic of Meghan and Harry’s decision to quit as working royals.
A TV source said last night: “Oprah is likely to show Meghan clips of things Thomas has said, then ask for her response.
“It should lead to some dramatic moments, because Meghan, and of course Harry, have never publicly addressed what’s gone on with him.
“Thomas has spoken about missing the wedding, their rift, and them leaving the royals. He has not held back, and he has also made a point about being Archie’s grandad — who has never met him.
“With Meghan pregnant again, the subject of whether he will meet his second grandchild is also likely to come up.
“And given she has apparently answered all of Oprah’s questions openly, it could be pretty explosive and emotional.”
Meghan talks about her father shortly after she won a legal battle against the Mail on Sunday over publication of a letter to him.
TWO-HOUR GRILLING
A High Court judge ruled last month the newspaper breached her privacy when it ran extracts of her letter to Thomas. And last week, a judge also ruled in Meghan’s favour in her copyright infringement claim against the newspaper.
When Thomas appears on Good Morning Britain it will give him the chance to immediately respond to comments made by the Sussexes in their Oprah chat.
He will speak to hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid by videolink from his home in Rosarito, Mexico, and deliver his verdict on the interview, sold to 70 countries.
ITV, which paid £1million to secure UK rights to the two-hour Oprah grilling, have agreed to pay Thomas a substantial fee to appear on breakfast TV next week.
In teaser clips, revealed by CBS this week, Meghan has accused the Royal Family of “perpetuating falsehoods” and accused Palace aides of blocking an interview with her pal Oprah in 2018.
Another source said: “Thomas is disappointed that Meghan has shown such disrespect to the Queen and Royal Family in the clips and he plans to show his support for them.
“He’s been left completely shocked by his daughter’s actions and wants the opportunity to speak out after she is expected to go into detail about their relationship. ITV know it is a coup.”
Thomas’s relationship with Meghan and Harry soured in the run-up to their 2018 Windsor Castle wedding, when he admitted agreeing to stage pictures of himself.
He then suffered a heart attack and could not attend the ceremony which saw Prince Charles walk Meghan down the aisle. He has since criticised the pair for moving to Canada, and then California.
‘EMBARRASSED FOR THEM’
Speaking on Good Morning Britain in January last year, Thomas branded the decision to walk away from the royals as embarrassing.
He added: “When they married into royalty and knew what they were getting themselves into.
“That’s been Harry’s life — and Meghan has had a similar kind of life. I think they’ve hurt the Queen. They’ve hurt the royals.
“I’m a little embarrassed for them and I’m feeling very sorry for the Queen.”
Thomas has also played down claims that Meghan suffered from racism while living in the UK.
And he has urged Harry to “man up” and meet him.
In a Channel 5 documentary, he introduced himself, saying: “I’m Archie’s Grandpa. This is my story.”
Anguished Thomas has previously described Meghan and Harry as “lost souls” and said he had given up hope of them ever “reaching out” to him.
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