Due to their mutual lack of interaction with their grandkids, Thomas Markle feels “deep empathy” for King Charles. After leaving royal duties four years ago, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved to California, and their two-year-old Princess Lilibet and five-year-old Prince Archie are the only royal children that the retired lighting director would “love” to speak with the king about. Neither Thomas nor King Charles, according to Thomas, “deserve” to be treated “so badly” by the pair.
Thomas, who has had no contact with his daughter Meghan since before she married Prince Harry in 2018, expressed his thoughts to MailOnline’s Mail+: “I would love to speak to him because I am sure he has as many unanswered questions as I do. Neither of us deserves the treatment we’ve received. He is going through cancer treatment and I’m not in the best of health. I’m not afraid of dying. It is what it is.”
Thomas is particularly saddened when he sees photos from events like last weekend’s Trooping The Colour celebrations because Archie and Lilibet are “being denied the right” to get to know the children of Harry’s brother Prince William, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Prince Louis. “It struck me as very sad that Meghan and Harry’s kids are being denied the right to know their cousins, who look like fantastic children. The relationship between cousins is a special one. There’s a unique bond.”
He feels that Lilibet and Archie are missing out on important family connections and experiences. “I feel sad that Lilibet and Archie don’t have the chance to get to know their cousins and take part in things like Trooping The Colour, which is their birthright. They are getting to the age where they will start asking questions, as all kids do. At some stage it’s inevitable that they will ask their parents why they have cut them off from both sides of the family?”
Thomas reflects on the impact of these decisions, not just on the present but on the future as well. “They have two grandpas who want to see them, one of whom is the King of England. I never in my 80 years thought I’d be in the same boat as the King. The decisions Meghan and Harry have made will affect their kids for the rest of their lives. I find myself wondering how Archie and Lilibet will feel in a few years’ time when they realize all the things they have missed out on.”
Thomas turns 80 next month and while he’ll spend the day with son Thomas Jr. and speak to his eldest daughter Samantha on the phone, he isn’t expecting to hear from his estranged daughter or her family. “I don’t expect to hear from Meghan and Harry. I wish we could have worked this situation out. I was always ready and willing to do that.”
The sense of loss Thomas feels is palpable. His relationship with Meghan, which once was strong and supportive, is now strained and distant. The emotional toll of this estrangement is evident in his words and reflections. He longs for a resolution, a way to bridge the gap that has widened over the years. The absence of contact with his grandchildren only deepens this sense of loss and longing.
Thomas’ reflections extend to a broader contemplation of family and legacy. He sees the missed opportunities for familial bonds and shared experiences as a significant loss, not just for himself but for his grandchildren and their future. The disconnect between Meghan and Harry and their families on both sides represents a rupture in the fabric of what he believes to be important familial relationships.
The empathy Thomas feels for King Charles stems from a shared experience of being cut off from their grandchildren. This shared plight creates a sense of solidarity between the two men, both of whom find themselves in similar situations despite their vastly different lives. The commonality of their experiences speaks to the universal nature of familial bonds and the pain of estrangement.
Thomas’ perspective on the situation is deeply personal, but it also touches on broader themes of forgiveness, reconciliation, and the enduring importance of family. He believes that the decisions made by Meghan and Harry have far-reaching implications, not only for the present but for the future well-being of their children. The impact of these decisions, he fears, will be felt for years to come.
Additionally, Thomas discusses death and health. His desire for reconciliation is made more pressing by his admission of his personal health problems and King Charles’s ongoing cancer treatment. Knowing that they are mortal themselves emphasizes how crucial it is to mend these family divisions while there is still time.
Thomas needs to connect and be understood, which is why he wants to talk to King Charles. He perceives in the King another grandpa going through a similar ordeal of suffering and bewilderment. A link is formed by their common experience, one that goes beyond their unique situations.
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