Meghan Markle’s estranged dad Thomas claims he felt ‘forced’ to reveal details of her letter after her pals ‘misrepresented’ contents
MEGHAN’S estranged dad has claimed he felt forced to reveal details of her “hurtful” letter after her pals used it to “vilify” him.
Thomas Markle told the Mail on Sunday he had kept the letter secret for six months.
The Duchess of Sussex said last week she was suing the paper for publishing it.
Thomas decided to release parts of it after an anonymous source, claiming to be a pal of Meghan’s, was quoted in US magazine People portraying it as an “olive branch”.
The five-page handwritten letter was posted to him by the duchess’s LA business manager in August 2018.
Retired Hollywood lighting director Mr Markle said he felt it was a “final farewell” from Meghan.
He told the newspaper: “I decided to release parts of it because of the article from Meghan’s friends in People magazine.
“I have to defend myself. I only released parts of the letter because other parts were so painful.
The letter didn’t seem loving to me. I found it hurtful.”
Mr Markle, 75, added: “I don’t recognise the person who wrote the letter but I still love my daughter.
“All it would take is one phone call and most of this craziness would stop.”
Mr Markle, who missed Meghan’s wedding to Prince Harry after having heart surgery, said there was nothing in the letter “asking about my health”.
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He added: “I was hoping it was the olive branch I’d longed for. Instead it was deeply hurtful.
“I was so devastated I couldn’t show it to anyone — and never would have, had it not been for the People piece which meant I had to defend myself.”
According to the MoS he repeatedly tried to call Meghan, 38, on the number he has for her.
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