Thomas Markle’s 80th birthday is a milestone that comes with mixed emotions.
The retired lighting director has not spoken to his youngest daughter, Meghan Markle, since 2018, despite reportedly making multiple attempts to reach out.
Their relationship came under strain when he posed for paparazzi photos before her wedding to Prince Harry.
Markle also suffered two heart attacks just before the ceremony, preventing him from walking his daughter down the aisle.
Since then, Meghan and Harry have not communicated with Thomas and he has never had the chance to meet his son-in-law – or grandchildren Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Thomas Markle has not spoken to his daughter Meghan Markle since 2018, despite multiple attempts to contact her
‘I’ve had a good life and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, but everything has been overshadowed by what’s happened over the last six years,’ he told Mail Online earlier this year.
“I’ve never really been into birthdays, but I know the person I’d most like to hear from, Meghan, won’t be responding.”
Thomas has a clifftop home in Rosarito, Mexico, 250 miles from the Sussexes’ 16-bathroom mansion in Montecito.
His living room is filled with mementos of Meghan, including her graduation photos from Little Red Schoolhouse preschool and Immaculate Heart High School.
There is also a photo of father and daughter at the Emmy Awards, when Meghan was about 10 years old.
The award-winning lighting director grew up in Pennsylvania with his parents and two siblings.
His mother, Doris, worked in the candy aisle of a local candy store, while his father, Gordon, was a printer at Olmsted Air Force Base, just outside the family’s hometown of Newport.
Thomas Markle’s career began in high school, where he worked on theater productions, before landing a job at Chicago public broadcaster WTTW.
He worked for ten years for the live music program Soundstage, where he collaborated with icons such as Aretha Franklin and Billy Joel.
Prince Charles escorted Meghan down the aisle at St George’s Chapel in Thomas’ absence
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married on May 19, 2018 at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle
Thomas Markle has never met his son-in-law. Pictured: Meghan and Harry after a service of thanksgiving for Queen Elizabeth II’s reign at St Paul’s Cathedral in 2022
After his divorce from his first wife Rosalyn, the mother of his eldest children Samantha and Tom Jr., Thomas decided to pursue his chances in Hollywood.
He became lighting director for two major shows, General Hospital and Married With Children.
Meghan’s mother, Doria, worked as a secretary at the same studio where she and Thomas later began a relationship. However, they divorced when Meghan was two.
Because Doria started an import and export business that required a lot of travel, Meghan moved in with her father full-time at age 11.
After school, Meghan often accompanied Thomas to the set.
The couple had a close bond, with Thomas getting up at 5am every morning to help his daughter style her hair before she went to school.
Meghan’s naturally curly hair became something of an obsession for the former actress after she faced racism at a young age.
While on vacation, the duo traveled from Los Angeles to Florida, stopping in Texas in search of a salon where they could wash and style Meghan’s hair.
Thomas Markle proudly stands next to his daughter Meghan at her graduation ceremony
Thomas is pictured with the American actress when she was a young girl
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle live in a 16-bathroom mansion in Montecito, 250 miles from Thomas
Meghan discussed her estranged relationship with Thomas during her Netflix documentary, Harry & Meghan
Meghan’s mother Doria (left) attended Meghan and Harry’s royal wedding in 2018
“We tried several, but no one would take us because I was a white man with a mixed-race child,” Markle recalled.
However, when she gained recognition as an actress, Meghan used specialized treatments to straighten her hair.
As she indicated in 2011, it takes a lot of effort and money to maintain her appearance.
“My mom is black and my dad is Dutch and Irish, so the texture of my hair is very curly,” she said. “I’ve had Brazilian blowouts for a few years now.”
Markle claimed that Meghan’s fame changed his daughter’s personality.
“The person she has become is not the girl I raised,” he explained.
‘She started changing when she was living in Canada filming Suits and hanging out with the Soho House [an exclusive members’ club and hotel chain] crowd.
‘She started acting spoiled. Things escalated after she met Harry.
“It bothers me that Markle’s name is now associated with negativity. People talk about ‘Markled’ when they get dumped for no reason. It makes me sad.”
Thomas Markle probably won’t get a call from Meghan today, but he will likely celebrate his birthday with his son Tom Jr.
He is also able to call his eldest daughter, Samantha, who is unable to travel from her home in Florida to the celebration due to multiple sclerosis.