It is well known that Thomas Markle is estranged from his daughter Meghan, who is married to Prince Harry. Her father turns 80 today and we take a look at his current life
Thomas’ biggest birthday wish is to hear from his daughter Meghan
Thomas Markle celebrates his 80th birthday today, but he won’t hear from his estranged daughter Meghan.
The Duchess of Sussex, 42, is unlikely to pick up the phone given their bitter feud and six years of no contact. “I’ve never been one for birthdays, but I know the person I want to hear from most, Meghan, won’t be in touch,” she said. he told the Daily Mail.
The retired lighting director has not spoken to Meghan for years following her scandal with the paparazzi, which was caught on CCTV and saw her willingly posing for fake photos in the run-up to her 2018 wedding. Today we take a closer look at her life…
The 80-year-old man lives in the Mexican coastal city of Rosarito (JOBsNews)
Where does Thomas live?
Thomas lives in a small yellow house overlooking the beach in Rosarito, Mexico, 250 miles up the coast from his daughter Meghan, who lives in a 16-bedroom mansion in Montecito, California. Thousands of American expatriates live in this coastal town, which is just 10 miles south of the U.S. border.
What is his net worth?
The father was a successful lighting director in Hollywood (Netflix)
Thomas, who won several Emmy Awards for his work in television, grew up in Pennsylvania and his passion for lighting began when he was collaborating on theater productions in high school. He worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including actress Elizabeth Taylor.
The retired lighting man still owns an apartment in the Los Angeles suburb of Los Feliz. His net worth is estimated at £1.4m.
How is your health?
Thomas suffered two heart attacks shortly before Meghan’s wedding to Harry in 2018. In May 2022, he suffered a stroke and was taken to a hospital in Mexico before being flown back to the US for medical care.
The stroke has left the former lighting director with speech problems and he also suffers from back pain and a bad knee. He has admitted he did not think he would make it to 80 because his own father, Meghan’s paternal grandfather, was only 61 when he died.
Is he in a relationship?
Thomas is not believed to be currently in a relationship. He has been divorced twice, first from his wife Rosalyn and then from his second wife Doria Ragland. He met Meghan’s mother when she was working as a secretary at the studio where he worked as a lighting director on the popular shows General Hospital and Married With Children.
The couple remained friendly after splitting in 1987, with Thomas retiring to Mexico and staying with Doria, 67, on her trips back to Los Angeles.
What is your current relationship with Meghan?
Thomas did not attend Meghan and Harry’s wedding in May 2018 (/JOBs Apply News/Getty Images)
Thomas became estranged from his daughter in the run-up to her wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018, when he was caught selling photographs to paparazzi. He then failed to deliver her on the big day after suffering two heart attacks, meaning Harry’s father Charles had to step in to walk her down the aisle.
Thomas has not spoken to his daughter since 2018 and has never met his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. In a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan said: “I’m so sorry… I’ve lost my father.”
Does Thomas want reconciliation?
“I would love to meet my grandchildren but at this stage I’d settle for a photograph,” said Thomas, who has expressed disappointment that Harry has never been able to travel to meet him, saying: “He has the resources to fly around the world and he does it… What man gets married without meeting his wife’s father?”
The pensioner has also expressed sympathy for King Charles, who is said to have a fractured relationship with his youngest son.
How is your relationship with your other children?
Meghan has two half-siblings: Thomas Jr and Samantha (Daily Mirror)
Thomas has two other children, Meghan’s half-siblings. Thomas Markle Jr, a father of two who lives in Oregon and Samantha Markle, a mother of three who lives in Florida. Window installer Thomas, 57, will likely be in touch with his father on his birthday, as will Samantha, 59, who has been particularly outspoken about her older sister.
Samantha once told an Australian television show: “I hope she works things out with our father, because that’s what’s needed. That needs to be fixed.”
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