Meghan Markle ‘has lost public goodwill from Royal Wedding after failing to mend rift with dad Thomas’, claims author

MEGHAN Markle has lost goodwill from the public after failing to mend the rift with her dad, a royal author has claimed.

The former American actress has had a whirlwind year - marrying Prince Harry in May before the couple announced they would be welcoming their first baby in the coming spring.

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But royal writer Penny Junor warned the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had lost some of their popularity since their May wedding.

She put it down to Meghan's ongoing rift with her father, with 74-year-old Thomas Markle recently revealing he had been texting his daughter everyday - with no reply.

Junor told the Press Association: "I think it has been a mixed year for Harry and Meghan.

"They seem to have lost some of the goodwill and admiration that was so wholehearted when they married, and Meghan's failure to sort things out with her father has been a huge mistake, in my view.

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"We obviously don't know the truth about her relationship with him - it seems beyond extraordinary that Harry has never met him - but having him give interviews in which he says that she hasn't spoken to him or made contact with him since the wedding is incredibly damaging."

Thomas Markle spent Christmas delivering food and toys to homeless kids while Meghan celebrated the festive season at the Queen's Sandringham home.

And she said speculation that the 37-year-old's rumoured rift with Kate Middleton also hadn't helped.

It has been suggested that Meghan was involved in a "ghastly row" with the Duchess of Cambridge, with Kate rumoured to have been brought to tears during her brother-in-law's wedding preparations.

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Prince Harry, 34, moving to Frogmore Cottage next year with Meghan also hasn't helped the speculation there is tension between the couples.

Junor added: "The more the press write negative things, the less charming Harry is prepared to be and so the more negative the stories.

"It is all very sad because Harry and Meghan are a great double act."

But she said that Meghan's involvement in raising awareness for the Grenfell tragedy had helped.

The Duchess made a secret visit to the Grenfell community kitchen with Prince Harry, previously raising £250,000 for those affected by the tragedy.

And Junor said the couple had been doing their part as the "changing face of royalty".

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She said: "Everywhere they go they sprinkle fairy dust. They are both so easy and charming and tactile - and Harry so funny."

"They had a great tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand, and Harry's very moving speech at the opening of the Invictus Games was a triumph. He just goes from strength to strength."

Kensington Palace declined to comment.