Thomas Markle, the father of Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, has asserted that he was made a "scapegoat" in the circumstances surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan's withdrawal from their senior royal roles. In a recent commentary, Markle suggested that the narrative attributing their departure to his actions unfairly placed blame on him.
The couple announced their intention to "step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen" in early 2020. This decision followed a period of intense media scrutiny.
Markle, who has had a strained relationship with his daughter and the British royal family, has previously spoken about his feelings of being excluded and misunderstood. He claimed to have been unfairly targeted in the public discourse concerning "Megxit," the colloquial term for the Sussexes' departure.
Before the estrangement, Meghan had publicly acknowledged her father's contributions to her upbringing and career. In earlier statements, she paid tribute to "the blood, sweat and tears this man invested in my future," highlighting his role as a primary caregiver who took her to ballet and tap-dancing classes.
However, the relationship deteriorated, with further complications arising in early 2019 when the Metropolitan Police reportedly shared a letter with the Duchess that accused Markle Sr. of "heinous crimes." The exact nature of these accusations and the context in which the letter was shared remain subjects of public discussion.
Markle has consistently maintained that his desire for communication and his actions were misinterpreted, leading to his marginalization. He believes that the public and media narrative surrounding his daughter's royal life unfairly cast him as the sole or primary reason for the couple's eventual decision to seek a different path outside of the direct royal sphere.