Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas, is “sad” that his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are being “denied” a Royal lifestyle.

As he approaches his 80th birthday, Thomas, who is estranged from his daughter Meghan, yearns to meet his grandchildren for the first time. Residing in Rosarito, Mexico, approximately 400km away from Prince Harry and Meghan, Thomas finds it hard to believe that he has yet to meet his son-in-law, according to New Zealand Woman’s Weekly.

He also wishes to establish a connection with King Charles, to discuss their shared experience of not seeing their grandchildren. Thomas mentioned that even a photograph would bring him joy. The recent Trooping the Colour ceremony, where Prince William’s children – Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six – stood proudly with their family on the Buckingham Palace balcony, stirred feelings of pity in Thomas for his own grandchildren, reports the Express.

In an interview with New Zealand Woman’s Weekly, he stated: “It struck me as very sad that Meghan and Harry’s kids are being denied the right to know their cousins, who look like fantastic children, or take part in things like Trooping the Colour, which is their birthright. They are getting to the age where they will start to ask questions, as all kids do. I find myself wondering how Archie and Lilbet will feel in a few years’ time when they realise all the things they have missed out on.”

Thomas Markle wants to connect with King Charles. 

Meghan has reportedly never introduced Prince Harry to her father.

On the topic of seeing his grandkids, five year old Archie and three year old Lilibet, Thomas quipped that he never envisioned himself being on common ground with the King, both desiring to spend time with their grandchildren. The Mirror has reached out to representatives for Harry and Meghan for comment.

The news surfaces alongside reports that King Charles is keen on journeying to Montecito, California, in a bid to project the image of a “friendly grandfather” toward his youngest grandchildren. Royal pundit Tom Quinn expressed: “He is desperate to see his them and hates the idea that Archie and Lilibet will not remember him as the warm, friendly grandfather he wants to be.”

As Thomas nears his 80th birthday coming July 18, he affirms that Meghan remains the “one person I want to hear from most” – even though he honestly believes she won’t reach out to wish him well on his birthday or propose a prospect of a reunion. Thomas’s relationship with his daughter soured subsequent to his paparazzi scandal and no-show at her 2018 wedding. It is rumoured that they’ve been estranged since then.