All round

Thomas Markle and Prince Charles ‘unlikely to meet Lilibet for some time’

Via

411 HQ

Updated on June 16, 2023

See more articles on:Prince Charles, Prince Harry

get top stories via email

According to royal experts, Thomas Markle and Prince Charles are unlikely to see their new grandchild anytime soon owing to continuing squabbles with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

On Friday, June 4, Prince Harry and Meghan, who live in Montecito, California, had their second child, Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara.

Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, is believed to have been among the first family members to meet Lilibet.

According to royal biographer Robert Jobson, the other grandparents are less likely to share the pleasure of a face-to-face encounter in the near future.

Their daughter weighed 7 lbs 11 oz and was born at 11 a.m., according to the couple’s Archewell website.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex thrilled royal fans by naming their second child after both the Queen and the late Princess Diana, both of whom Harry cherishes. Meghan also paid homage to Doria Ragland in Lilibet Diana’s name, with a beautiful tribute to her American upbringing. The duchess is known to be close to her mother, who is said to have moved in with her and Harry to assist with the new baby.

While the maternal sides of both families are well-respected, the same cannot be said about Meghan and Harry’s respective dads. Neither Thomas Markle nor Prince Charles are likely to meet Lilibet Diana this summer, as both men have strained relationships with their adult offspring.

Meghan’s relationship with her father is reported to be strained after he worked with the British press and went on Good Morning Britain to raise concerns about her mental health.

Thomas Markle has yet to meet Prince Harry or Archie amid series of scathing interviews about his difficult relationship with his daughter.

Thomas Markle was seldom seen in public during the early days of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s courtship, and he seemed to be making a conscious effort to preserve his privacy.

However, only days before Harry and Meghan’s wedding at Windsor Castle in 2018, the 76-year-old was alleged to have cooperated with a British paparazzi photographer to arrange a series of photos.

Among the pictures were Thomas being fitted for a suit to wear to the historic occasion, looking through a book of British landmarks, and working out to get in shape.

He was scheduled to accompany Meghan down the aisle, but he had to drop out due to health issues.

He said in an interview that he hung up on Prince Harry after a heated argument about the staged photos for cash.
On the other end, Harry’s relationship with his father, Prince Charles, is now under scrutiny.

The 36-year-old recently claimed to have relocated to California with his family in order to “break the cycle” of “pain” he experienced as a member of the Royal Family.

He said that his father, like himself, had experienced “genetic pain” as a consequence of his upbringing.

‘Harry is likely to channel his mother’s inclusive philosophy. While it may be satisfactory to exclude a grandfather from seeing a grandchild for certain reasons, there is also a grace in being forgiving.

‘Diana possessed such grace even if at times it took a conscious effort to do the right thing.’