Meghan Markle, 36, is facing further embarrassment today as her father Thomas Markle, 74, spoke again to the press in an explosive interview.
The duo are said to have not spoken since he dramatically pulled out of the Royal Wedding in May this year after suffering a heart attack.
Rumours there would be a reconciliation between the pair were quashed by Meghan’s half sister Samantha Markle, who also regularly gives interviews to the press.
Samantha is even rumoured to be entering the Celebrity Big Brother house as a housemate in the coming weeks.
Now Thomas has again spoken out about the royals in an interview with the Mail on Sunday.
Admitting he lied to Prince Harry about staged paparazzi photos, he went on to say the timing of Harry’s phone call to tell him off for being involved in the pictures was “rude”.
He did accept Harry was “absolutely right” to criticise his decision to set up the staged photos, but was unhappy with being phoned while he was in hospital recovering from a heart attack.
Previously, the pair enjoyed a series of “warm and chatty” phone calls ahead of Meghan and Harry’s big day.
But now Thomas does not speak to either Harry or Meghan, revealing he hadn’t spoken to them for months.
While her family have been speaking to the press on a regular basis for some time, Meghan herself has not reacted publicly to their words.
Why has the Duchess of Sussex not released a public statement – is it royal protocol?
It is said she has not commented publicly on the matter because it is a “family” matter, and not related to her royal role.
Meghan has behaved “quite rightly,” former royal butler Grant Harrold told Express.co.uk.
“This is a personal family matter, and I see no right in it being aired in the press at all.
“The Duchess of Sussex has quite rightly remained silent, as it has nothing to do with anyone but her paternal family.
“I am sure The Duchess of Sussex will be very tight lipped over any family matters as any of us would be.”
It is also possible that royal protocol – which involves not having social media and making announcements through Palace statements – prevents Meghan from speaking out.
A source told US Weekly: “She doesn’t have her own publicist, she can’t make any comments on Twitter and she can’t reach out to him to tell him to stop speaking to the press.”
This is despite the fact “[Meghan’s] father’s comments have an effect on everything,” the publication reported.
Who is Meghan Markle? Quick profile
Meghan Markle was born Rachel Meghan Markle, on August 4, 1961 to parents Doria Ragland and father Thomas Markle.
Her father was previously married to Roslyn Loveless and Meghan has two elder half sibling – sister Samantha Markle and brother Thomas Markle Junior.
Actress
Meghan’s first television appearance in the USA was in an episode of the medical drama General Hospital in 2002.
She later moved on to roles in CSI, Without a Trace and Castle along with bit parts in Hollywood films including Get Him to the Greek, Remember Me and Horrible Bosses.
Meghan was also a “briefcase girl” on Deal or No Deal – but her most famous role was as Rachel Zane in legal drama Suits, which launched in 2011.
She was written out in the finale of the seventh series when her character got married, which aired in April 2018 – just before she got married herself.
Charity and humanitarian work
Meghan Markle’s career in television has gone hand-in-hand with her support for causes close to her heart.
She wrote about the stigma around menstrual health in an article for Time magazine and was a Global Ambassador for World Vision Canada – with whom she travelled to Rwanda for the charity’s Clean Water Campaign.
And her commitment to gender equality has seen her work with the United Nations – receiving a standing ovation in 2015 for her speech to mark International Women’s Day.
Relationships
In September 2011, she wed film producer Trevor Engelson, who she began dating in 2004.
But the pair divorced two years later in August 2013, citing irreconcilable difference.
She was in a relationship with celebrity chef Cory Vitiello for almost two years, before they broke it off in 2016 but the two remain good friends.
And in June 2016, she met Prince Harry on a blind date set up by a mutual friend.
Their relationship began in October that year and just over one year later, on November 27, 2017, the pair announced their engagement. They married on May 19, 2018 at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
Meghan’s heritage
Some have claimed Meghan Markle is the first mixed-race member of the Royal Family.
Historians are still arguing about Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III.
But Meghan will be the first royal to openly embrace a mixed-race heritage. She has written about the difficulties of being a biracial actress in Hollywood as she claims she is not black enough for some roles and not white enough for others.
