Prince Harry needs to welcome Meghan Markle’s dad Thomas into the fold – as he’s one man that’ll always have her back
ON Father’s Day just two years ago, a non-royal MEGHAN MARKLE posted an emotional tribute on her Instagram page to her father Thomas.
The very personal message to “daddy” read: “I’m still your buckaroo, and to this day your hugs are still the very best in the whole wide world.”
In the post – liked by over 14,000 fans before Meghan committed to PRINCE HARRY and deleted her social media accounts – she went on to thank her TV lighting director pop for providing her a work ethic, teaching her the “importance of handwritten thank you notes” and for giving her “that signature Markle nose.” She signed off: “I love you xo – Bean.”
How heartachingly unfathomable to think just 25 months later that Meghan would become pregnant herself and feel unable to share the life changing news with the very same dad who she clearly adored.
Sure, family life is messy. Life as a princess in the royal family with the spotlight of the media and public makes things even messier.
But I struggle to find any good reason why the royal family haven’t done all they can to broach a reconciliation between Meghan and Thomas that is desperately needed for both sides to be truly happy.
Thankfully, there were positive signs this week of a reproachment. Thomas appeared not to find out about the pregnancy from the media, which many feared, with speculation Meg’s mum and his ex Doria Ragland tipped him off before the formal announcement.
He has thus far remained unusually silent, texting his other daughter Samantha Markle – Meghan’s estranged half-sister – during an interview with me this week to say he was very excited about the news. He later wrote to Meghan to say she will be a great mother.
Thomas might be unlike any relative the sheltered Windsor’s have encountered before.
But I refuse to join the judgemental mob who say he committed all manner of ills by agreeing to pose for paparazzi pictures before his daughter married Prince Harry and subsequently giving a series of revealing interviews when their relationship cooled during the wedding snub fallout.
It may be the minority view, but this is a free man from Hollywood where speaking out publicly through the media is not frowned upon like it is by society snobs here (unless they’re appearing in Tatler magazine of course, darling).
Amidst the dramatic revelations of drug taking and Prince Harry’s angry phone calls, Thomas has maintained his love for his daughter and desire to reconcile.
When I spoke to Sam this week, her tone had shifted markedly too, as it becomes clear she regrets waging a war of words with her half-sis after her relationship with the Prince went public.
While her portrayal online and in social media is as an ugly stepsister desperately trying to ruin the Duchess’ life, having got to know Sam over the past few months that’s simply not an accurate reflection.
This is a wheelchair-bound woman suffering from multiple sclerosis who has struggled in life and, rightly or wrongly, felt let down by Meg when she became a TV star in Suits.
But as she told me after learning of the pregnancy this week: “It just makes everything that happened over the last year disappear. I want Meghan to be happy and calm and have peace.”
Immediate family is everything. Meghan is living in a strange world filled with strange people, none of whom really have her back (other than her husband).
She has a beautiful relationship with her mom, which will be massively important over the next few weeks.
But I do hope her little son or daughter has the chance to experience one of Thomas’ legendary hugs.