PRINCE Harry and ‘furious’ Meghan “will respond aggressively to Thomas Markle” after he threatened to take them to court, an expert claimed today.
Dad Thomas’ explosive vow to force his estranged daughter and son-in-law to let him meet his grandchildren could be the “final nail in the coffin” for their relationship, it was also claimed.
His vow comes as a royal commentator, Jonathan Sacerdoti, warned of a “growing divide between the Sussexes and the royal family” after Harry announced his memoir would be published next year.
Former Hollywood lighting director Thomas Markle has yet to meet his two grandkids due to his fractious relationship with his ex-Royal daughter – who he hasn’t seen since before her 2018 marriage to Harry, the Duke of Sussex.
“I will be petitioning the California courts for the right to see my grandchildren in the very near future,” Markle, 77, told Fox News from his Rosarito, Mexico, home.
But his demands didn’t stop there – adding that he wants his granddaughter Lilibet to be baptised.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to ask Her Majesty the Queen, the British family, the royal family, to allow Lily to receive her baptism and first christening at the Queen’s church.”
However, relationship expert Tina Wilson told The Celeb Report Online: “The Sussexes are likely to respond aggressively with legal paperwork back, if and when Mr Markle files his officially with the court of California.
“I am sure Meghan is furious with her dad’s latest interview and comments.
“And they won’t appreciate him sticking his nose in and asking the Queen to accept Lily into the church through the media.”
Read our Meghan and Harry live blog for the latest updates
The expert added: “Bringing the grandchildren into the public eye is stepping on sensitive ground although not seeing his grandchildren must hurt an awful lot.
“One thing that father and daughter have in common is that neither are good at letting the dust settle, so likely this isn’t the last drama we’ve heard from them.
“I fear for their relationship; this may well be the final nail in the coffin for any form of reconciliation.”
Wilson added: “Whilst the US is known for its crazy lawsuits, this feels more like a cry for attention rather than a legitimate ask and and his public plea feels like he’s clutching at straws, yet reconfirms that their relationship is still a stalemate.
“In typical fashion it’s likely that Meghan and Harry will give a public response, rather than picking up the phone and having a chat – so is the life of the Sussexes and their newly found American stardom.
“Adding fuel to the fire after three years of them not talking, publicly feuding and the widely publicised court case, where Mr Markle shared a personal letter from Meghan, his latest comments and plans are not going to go in his favour.”
LEGAL BATTLES
Thomas Markle’s legal threat comes after Meghan and Harry have repeatedly gone to court or threatened legal action over various claims.
Two months ago, The Celeb Report reported that Meghan will face another court hearing to decide how much money she will receive in her “torturous” privacy battle.
The Duchess of Sussex, 39, won her privacy row against the Mail on Sunday in February after it published extracts of a letter that she wrote to her dad.
In June 2021, Prince Harry threatened legal action against the BBC over claims he didn’t ask the Queen to name his baby daughter Lilibet.
And this month has seen Harry and Meghan’s plan to trademark Archewell hit a setback at the hands of US lawyers.
The pair want their non-profit organisation Archewell Foundation and Spotifty podcast series Archewell Audio to be protected by company law in America.
But their bid hasn’t had a smooth outcome as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been told their applications need clarification if they are to be made into law, reported the Mail.
‘KIDS AREN’T PAWNS’
Aside from threatening to head down a legal avenue to see his grandkids, Markle also said in his explosive Fox News interview that the couple’s son Archie, two, and newborn girl Lilibet weren’t ‘pawns’.
Markle blasted at his daughter and son-in-law: “We shouldn’t be punishing [the Queen] for Meghan and Harry’s bad behaviour.
“Archie and Lily are small children, they are not politics, they’re not pawns, not part of the game.
“And they’re also Royals. They’re also entitled to the same rights as any other royal.”
A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had no comment when approached by Fox News.
Markle’s comments come days after a shock announcement that Penguin Random House will publish Prince Harry’s memoir – which has reportedly surprised the Royal Family.
British journalist and royal expert Jonathan Sacerdoti told the Sun Online: “The royal family will undoubtedly be apprehensive about this.
“So far many of the activities Harry and Meghan have been involved in since they left the UK have damaged the reputation of the monarchy and boosted their own instead.
“This memoir is likely to do the same.”
“The Royal family will be keen to protect itself.
“While there are personal and familial relations to be looked after, the monarchy itself is of constitutional and national importance, so they’ll be thinking of that with every decision they make.”
Thomas and Meghan Markle haven’t spoken for about three years since he confessed to staging paparazzi photos in the lead-up to the Sussexes’ wedding.
He admitted to lying to Prince Harry about posing for paparazzi photos which he staged in a bid to improve his image.
Earlier this year, he claimed that he had apologised “100 times” to Harry and Meghan – but claims they still won’t talk to him.
