Thomas Markle, 82, has voiced fears that he may never meet his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet, following news that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are returning to the United Kingdom. Markle learned of their return through a news report.
Markle, a retired movie and television lighting director, is currently recovering in a U.S. rehabilitation center after undergoing an amputation of his left leg below the knee in December. He has never met Prince Harry or his grandchildren. He expressed his feelings of hurt and upset, stating, "I'm hurt and upset that she doesn't give a damn about me, even though I'm in hospital." He recalled a past closeness with his daughter, saying, "Meghan used to love me, she was always a daddy's girl, and now it's like I don't exist."
"I have never met my grandchildren, and now they are leaving America," Markle told The Mail on Sunday. He added, "One day those kids will ask about their 'other' grandfather – the one who isn't King – the one that Meghan and Harry are apparently ashamed of. I hope they know how much I wanted to meet them."
Markle's relationship with his daughter has been strained since he participated in staged paparazzi photographs before her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry. They have not spoken since that time. Despite the estrangement, he stated, "I will never stop loving my daughter but I will never understand why she turned her back on me."
His eldest daughter, Samantha, who is Meghan's half-sister, commented on her father's progress, saying, "I'm really proud of dad’s progress. Every day is a blessing."
Thomas Markle underwent surgery after developing a potentially fatal blood clot while residing in the Philippines, returning to the U.S. earlier this year. He had held out hope for a visit while the family was in the United States, but now that they are leaving, that hope has diminished. It is anticipated that if the children attend school in the UK, they will be day pupils rather than boarders.