Meghan Markle Refused Both the Queen’s and Prince Charles’ Urgings to Reconcile with Estranged Father Thomas Markle, Book Claims

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 23 July 2022

According to the explosive new book Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors, written by veteran biographer Tom Bower, both the Queen and Prince Charles strongly encouraged Meghan Markle to mend fences with her estranged father, Thomas Markle, and that Charles in particular became “irritated” with her refusal to do so, per The Mirror.

For those who may not remember—though how could you forget?—Thomas Markle made a significant number of headlines in the runup to Harry and Meghan’s May 2018 wedding, culminating in his not attending because of health issues. (Ultimately, Meghan walked herself partway down the aisle, and was then met by Charles, who escorted her the rest of the way.) Over the summer of 2018, Thomas took part in several interviews where he discussed Harry, Meghan, and the royal family candidly and, sometimes, critically. In one interview, Thomas said, per The Independent, that he had been cut off completely: “I used to have a phone number and text number for her personal aides at the Palace, but after I said a few critical words about the royal family changing Meghan, they cut me off,” he said, adding “perhaps it would be easier for Meghan if I died.”

Two months after the wedding, in July 2018, The Independent reports, “Prince Charles is also claimed to have grown frustrated with Meghan,” quoting Bower’s text as saying “he had never really understood her or what she wanted.” That same month, The Mirror reports, “Charles’ irritation had reportedly reached a boiling point and he addressed the situation with his youngest son.”

Harry explained to his father “that Meghan did not phone or email her father due to suspicions that they were both compromised,” to which Charles said, “Can’t she just go and see him and make this stop?” The outlet reports that “Charles is alleged to have ‘berated’ Harry” and Bower writes “the inconsistencies of Meghan’s excuses not only irritated Charles, but perhaps also the Queen.”

Charles and the Queen allegedly urged Meghan to fly to see her father in person in Mexico (where he resides), but she refused, to the two senior royals’ dismay. Meghan claimed, according to Bower’s book and per The Mirror, “it was completely unrealistic to think I could fly discreetly to Mexico, arrive unannounced at his doorstep, to a location and residence I had [n]ever visited or know, in a small border town…and somehow hope to speak privately to my father without causing a frenzy of media attention and intrusion that could bring more embarrassment to the royal family.”

Charles’ and the Queen’s urgings for reconciliation happened four years ago this month—and, at least publicly, Meghan and her father have still not resolved their issues.

Rachel Burchfield is a writer, editor, and podcaster whose primary interests are fashion and beauty, society and culture, and, most especially, the British Royal Family and other royal families around the world. She serves as Marie Claire’s Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor and has also contributed to publications like Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, People, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and W, among others. Before taking on her current role with Marie Claire, Rachel served as its Weekend Editor and later Royals Editor. She is the cohost of Podcast Royal, a show that was named a top five royal podcast by The New York Times. A voracious reader and lover of books, Rachel also hosts I’d Rather Be Reading, which spotlights the best current nonfiction books hitting the market and interviews the authors of them. Rachel frequently appears as a media commentator, and she or her work has appeared on outlets like NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, and more.