MEGHAN Markle’s estranged dad Thomas Markle has revealed he found out about his granddaughter Lilibet’s birth on the radio as he begs to meet her.
The 76-year-old is so desperate to have a relationship with Meghan that he threatened to expose “dirty laundry” in the trailer of an upcoming interview.
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Thomas who hasn’t spoken to Meghan since her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018, has pleaded to see the newborn in an exclusive interview with 60 minutes Australia, which is set to air on Sunday.
The retired Hollywood lighting engineer asks to be forgiven for his “one dumb mistake” and says he is desperate to make amends.
“I haven’t spoken to her since two days before they got married,” he said in the 40-second trailer.
When asked how he found out about his granddaughter’s birth he responds “No phone calls, I just heard it on the radio.
“I’ll be very disappointed that I don’t get to hold my granddaughter.”
Thomas and Meghan have been estranged over claims that he staged photos in return for cash.
In a move that could damage the relationship even more he said: “You want dirty laundry? This is the first time I’ve ever discussed these things.”
It comes just days after he said he was “very pleased” with the news of his granddaughter’s birth and wished Harry and Meghan “all my love”, after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced the birth of Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.
“I’m very pleased that my daughter and my new granddaughter had a successful delivery, ” Thomas told The Celeb Report Online.
“I wish them all my love and the best of luck.”
Thomas has yet to meet Prince Harry and has not seen his grandson Archie.
According to royal biographer Robert Jobson it’s unlikely he will meet his new granddaughter anytime soon.
“As it stands it seems unlikely that either grandfather will meet their new granddaughter for some time,” he told the Daily Mail.
Thomas and Meghan’s relationship soured in the run-up to their 2018 Windsor Castle wedding, when he admitted agreeing to stage pictures of himself.
Thomas confessed that he lied to Harry on the phone when it was revealed he had set up snaps of himself getting fitted for a suit in a bid to improve his image ahead of the Royal Wedding.
He said at the time: “I’m not proud of that, but I did.”
Earlier this year he said he has apologised “100 times” to Prince Harry and his daughter – but claims they still won’t talk to him.
During an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan opened up about her relationship with her dad and said she was left feeling crushed when he lied to her.
Meanwhile, there has been speculation that the couple’s choice of names for their daughter is an “olive branch” to the Royal family.
Royal expert Gyles Brandreth said on Good Morning Britain that the Queen was “not asked but informed” by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle that they were naming their baby Lilibet- her childhood nickname.
Angela Levin said this week that Meghan and Harry’s use of the “private” name was “rude” and even “demeaning” towards the Queen.
Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, whose middle name was given in memory of her grandmother Princess Diana, arrived at 11.40am on Friday in California.
