Thomas Markle came to the defence of the royal family today, saying he didn’t believe the monarchy or Britain was “racist” despite his daughter Meghan’s sensational claims.
Mr Markle, 76, who has been estranged from his daughter since her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018, spoke to Good Morning Britain on Tuesday after watching the Oprah Winfrey interview.
In the interview, broadcast on ITV last night, Meghan, 39, claimed a member of the royal family made a racist comment about the skin colour of their unborn son Archie. The couple refused to reveal who made the comment.
Winfrey later suggested she had been told by Prince Harry, 36, it was not the Queen or Duke of Edinburgh, who is recovering in hospital following heart surgery.
Mr Markle denied that there was racism at the heart of the monarchy, saying: “I have great respect for the royals and I don’t think the British royal family are racist at all. I don’t think the British are racist.
“I’m guessing and hoping it’s just a dumb question from somebody. It could just be that simple, it could be somebody asked a stupid question, rather than being a total racist.
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Mr Markle, who lives in Rosarito, Mexico, was also asked about the timing of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s interview in light of Prince Philip’s hospitalisation.
He said: “They went way over the top with it, these stories with Oprah, and should have waited. Considering the Queen’s age and Philip’s age, they should have waited, or tried to wait.”
Meghan discussed her non-existent relationship with her father during her interview with Winfrey. The section was not broadcast as part of the original two-hour programme but released as a follow-up clip.
Meghan has not spoken to her father since he posed for paparazzi photographs in 2018.
She told Winfrey she found it difficult to discuss his actions, saying it felt like a “betrayal” and adding: “I genuinely can’t imagine doing anything to intentionally cause pain to my child.”
Meghan said in comparison her mother, Doria Ragland, had been “in silent dignity for four years”. Asked about his behaviour, Mr Markle told Good Morning Britain: “I’m very disappointed about it. I’ve apologised about this thing, what happened, at least 100 times or so.”
Mr Markle also compared his actions with incidents from Harry’s past, saying: “We all make mistakes… but I’ve never played naked pool and I’ve never dressed up like Hitler.”
Mr Markle said it “hurt” to hear of the mental health problems his daughter had suffered, following her revelation that she contemplated suicide. He said: “I love my daughter very much. Had I known she was having psychological problems, I would have been there for her. Biggest problem here is she has pretty much ghosted all of her family on her mother’s side and my side, so she really had no one to reach out to.
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He said he would “love to get together” and see his grandson Archie, whom he has never met.
