Thomas Markle celebrates 80th birthday without Meghan as feud with duchess reaches six-year mark
Thomas Markle celebrates 80th birthday without Meghan as feud with duchess reaches six-year mark
Getty / 7News
Thomas Markle is celebrating his 80th birthday without Meghan Markle, as his feud with the Duchess of Sussex has reached its six-year mark.
The retired lighting director has not spoken to his youngest daughter since 2018, despite reportedly making multiple attempts to reach out.
Their relationship became strained when he staged paparazzi photos before her wedding to Prince Harry.
Thomas also suffered two heart attacks just before the ceremony, preventing him from walking his daughter down the aisle.
Thomas Markle celebrates 80th birthday without Meghan as feud with duchess reaches six-year markGetty / 7NewsSince then, Meghan and Harry have not communicated with Thomas, and he has never met his son-in-law or grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Thomas told The Mail: "I've had a good life and I am proud of what I've accomplished, but everything has been overshadowed by what has happened in the last six years.
"I've never been one for birthdays, but I know the one person I most want to hear from, Meghan, won't be in touch."
Thomas lives in Rosarito, Mexico, 250 miles from the Sussexes' mansion in Montecito.
Thomas Markle lives in Mexico and has not spoken to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in years
GB News
His living room features many pictures of Meghan, including her graduation photos from the Little Red Schoolhouse kindergarten and Immaculate Heart High School.
There is also a photograph of the father and daughter duo attending the Emmy Awards when Meghan was aged 10.
The award-winning lighting director grew up in Pennsylvania with his parents and two siblings.
His mother Doris worked behind a sweet counter at a local store, while his father Gordon was a printer at Olmsted Air Force Base outside of Newport.
Meghan Markle spoke very affectionately about her father before marrying Prince Harry
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Thomas's career began in school, working on theatre productions before landing a position at WTTW public television in Chicago.
He spent a decade on the live music programme Soundstage, rubbing shoulders with Aretha Franklin and Billy Joel among others.
After his divorce from his first wife Rosalyn, the mother of his oldest children Samantha and Thomas Junior, Thomas Senior became the lighting director for two prominent shows, General Hospital and Married With Children.
Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, worked as a secretary at the same studio where she and Thomas began a relationship. However, they divorced when the Duchess of Sussex was two.