Thomas Markle, Meghan Markle’s father, has made an emotional plea to reconcile with his daughter and meet his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet. Approaching his 80th birthday, Thomas publicly expressed his desire to reconnect, urging the Duchess of Sussex to allow him to see his grandkids. Despite ongoing tension, he hopes to mend their strained relationship.

Thomas told the Daily Mail, “I’ve never been one for birthdays, but the person I most want to hear from, Meghan, won’t be in touch.” He expressed concern that Archie and Lilibet will eventually question why they’ve been cut off from both sides of the family, highlighting that one of their grandfathers is the King of England.

Health issues prevented Thomas from attending Meghan’s 2018 royal wedding, where he was initially invited to walk her down the aisle. He later admitted to staging paparazzi photos and chose not to attend to avoid embarrassing the royal family. Now, he longs to meet his grandchildren, saying, “Even a photograph would make me happy at this stage.”

Reflecting on his life, Thomas, who never expected to reach 80, expressed regret over the unresolved situation with Meghan and Harry. He shared, “I was always ready and willing.”

Meghan’s last conversation with her father occurred before her wedding, when he was hospitalized. Their communication ceased after Thomas became involved in the paparazzi controversy. Meghan’s mother was the sole attendee from her side at the wedding. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan revealed that she still grieves their fractured relationship.