Estranged father fears he may never meet royal grandchildren as emotional birthday passes in silence
Thomas Markle, Meghan Markle's estranged father, marked his 81st birthday in tears as the long-standing rift with his daughter continues to cast a shadow over his later years.
Once a Hollywood lighting director, Thomas spent yet another birthday without contact from his youngest child. Despite repeated attempts to reconnect with the Duchess of Sussex, sources close to him say he remains heartbroken by her silence.
“Thomas knows time is unpredictable, and he fears his age may mean he'll never get to see Archie and Lilibet,” an insider shared. The absence of his daughter and grandchildren made his birthday especially difficult, with emotions running high on what should have been a celebratory occasion.
The milestone came shortly after Meghan posted a cryptic message on Instagram. The Duchess shared a video of herself preparing gift baskets filled with As Ever rosé, writing, “Sending birthday love (both near and far) to my ladies.” Initially thought to be a nod to Queen Camilla, who celebrated her 78th birthday the following day, the message was later confirmed to be directed toward her friends Heather Dorak and Jamie Kern Lima.
Thomas' relationship with Meghan took a sharp turn in 2018 when he staged paparazzi photos ahead of her wedding to Harry — images that reportedly caused embarrassment for the royal family. Since then, there has been no reconciliation, and Thomas has never met his two youngest grandchildren.
As he enters his ninth decade, the distance between father and daughter remains unresolved — a heartbreaking reality for a man still holding out hope for forgiveness.
