Royalty

Prince Harry’s Snub of Meghan Markle’s Family Dubbed Very Strange After Six Years of Marriage

Prince Harry has come under scrutiny for never having met his wife Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, despite the couple being married for six years.

The ongoing rift between Meghan and her father has raised eyebrows among royal experts, and Harry’s lack of engagement with his father-in-law has only added to the controversy.

Royal commentator Ingrid Seward has voiced her concerns, suggesting that this family estrangement may be contributing to Harry’s declining popularity.

In a recent interview with The Sun, royal expert Ingrid Seward questioned Prince Harry’s apparent snub of Meghan’s family, particularly her father.

Seward, who has been a vocal critic of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, pointed out that Harry’s failure to meet Thomas Markle after six years of marriage is “very strange” and raises questions about how the couple views Meghan’s side of the family.

“I think what people really disliked is that [Harry] dissed his family,” Seward remarked, pointing out that Harry’s relationship with his own family has also been under strain in recent years.

“I think, the book Spare might have earned him millions but gosh, he’s paid for it. Oh, he’s paying for it still.”

The royal expert emphasized that distancing oneself from family, particularly in such a public manner, has likely alienated Harry from his supporters, especially in America.

One of Seward’s most significant points of criticism was the fact that Harry has never met Meghan’s father, despite their marriage and the birth of their two children, Archie and Lilibet.

“I mean, it’s very strange,” Seward said. “Is Meghan ashamed of her father? Why hasn’t Harry met him? This sort of distancing from family, people find that very alienating.”

Seward’s comments reflect the broader sentiment that many people feel toward Harry and Meghan’s public image, particularly regarding family values.

She contrasts their approach with that of Prince William and Kate Middleton, whose recent videos highlight their focus on family unity.

According to Seward, the way William and Kate present themselves as connected to their families is the “opposite” of what Harry and Meghan have demonstrated.

Harry’s declining popularity has been a topic of discussion ever since the publication of his memoir Spare.

According to a survey cited by The Sun and conducted by Statista, Harry’s approval rating has plummeted from 71% in 2019 to a mere 32% in 2023.

The stark decline in public perception is largely attributed to his strained relationship with the British royal family and the contents of his memoir, where he leveled serious accusations against his brother Prince William and father King Charles III.

Seward suggested that Harry’s strained family ties have not sat well with the public, particularly in the United States, where family values are highly regarded.

“And I think, especially among the Americans that I know, they hate the idea that he dissed his family, he doesn’t speak to his family, doesn’t speak to his brother, has never met Meghan’s father,” she added.

The expert implied that the public’s disillusionment with Harry might be tied to his inability or unwillingness to mend familial bonds, which are often viewed as sacred.

While Harry has been vocal about his grievances with his family, particularly in his memoir and interviews with Oprah Winfrey and others, his refusal to reconcile seems to be costing him public favor.

The rift between Meghan Markle and her father, Thomas Markle, has been well-documented.

Their relationship began to deteriorate around the time of Meghan and Harry’s wedding in 2018, when Thomas Markle was involved in a scandal involving staged paparazzi photos.

He ultimately did not attend their wedding due to health issues, and their relationship has been strained ever since.

Thomas Markle has publicly expressed his disappointment over being cut off from his daughter’s life.

He has not met his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet, and has repeatedly reached out through the media in an attempt to reconcile with Meghan.

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His efforts, however, have been largely ignored by the Duchess of Sussex, who has remained silent on the matter.

For many, Prince Harry’s decision to align himself with Meghan’s estrangement from her father raises questions about his own views on family.

Critics argue that, as a man who has spoken at length about the pain of losing his mother, Princess Diana, and his desire to protect his own family, Harry’s refusal to engage with Meghan’s father seems hypocritical.

The ongoing family estrangement has cast a shadow over Harry and Meghan’s public image.

While they continue to be vocal advocates for mental health and other social causes, their personal relationships, or lack thereof, with their families have led some to view them as disconnected and self-centered.

In contrast, Prince William and Kate Middleton have made efforts to portray themselves as devoted to their family, regularly appearing with their children at public events and demonstrating a strong connection with the royal family.

This contrast has not gone unnoticed by the public, who increasingly view William and Kate as the more stable and relatable royal couple.

Prince Harry’s refusal to meet Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, has raised eyebrows and drawn criticism from royal experts like Ingrid Seward.

As Harry’s popularity continues to decline, the strained family relationships on both sides—his own with the British royal family and Meghan’s with her father—appear to be contributing factors.

While Harry and Meghan have carved out a new life for themselves in the United States, their continued alienation from their families risks further damaging their public image.

Only time will tell if they will reconcile these relationships or continue to face criticism for their perceived distance from the values of family unity.