The situation was particularly upsetting for the Duke of Sussex, who had previously spoken out against paparazzi behavior, recalling how similar pursuits had led to his mother, Princess Diana’s tragic death in 1997.

During Thomas’s recovery in the hospital, the royal reached out, remarking, “If you’d listened to me, none of this would have happened,” referencing the staged photo controversy.

Thomas reportedly ended the call abruptly—a decision he later came to regret, acknowledging that this moment marked the beginning of their rift.

Following the initial fallout, he confided to friends in July 2018 that he hadn’t spoken to Meghan or Prince Harry in a long time. Thomas feared he might never see his daughter again.

Heartbroken over their growing estrangement, he expressed a sense of finality, saying, “I think they’re shot of me now,” as he struggled to understand why he’d been excluded from Meghan’s life. Thomas later claimed he had been set up to disrupt the wedding, presenting himself as a victim in the situation.

Adding to the strain, Meghan had written him a personal letter, which was subsequently leaked by a media outlet. This breach of privacy led Meghan to pursue legal action against the outlet for sharing the contents of her private message.

With the ongoing rift, Meghan has even kept her father from meeting her two kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, whom she welcomed in 2019 and 2021, respectively.

Thomas has since voiced his wish to see his grandchildren. He revealed in a 2023 interview that he first learned of Lilibet’s birth through media reports.

In addition, the distance between Meghan and her father deepened after his hospitalization in 2023. Following a stroke that temporarily took his ability to speak, Thomas shared that neither Meghan nor Prince Harry had reached out to check on him.

Reflecting on this, he admitted, “I’m heartbroken. I’m very upset,” describing it as painful and “cruel” for them to keep him from seeing his grandchildren. The animosity between the father and daughter duo remains, with Thomas reportedly no longer considering Meghan his daughter.

In a candid interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan discussed her strained relationship with her parent. She recounted how the media’s intense pursuit led tabloids to track down her father, even setting up near his home.

The royal revealed her efforts to protect him from the press, yet Thomas ultimately went behind her back to speak with them. Feeling betrayed, she explained that he basically lied about his involvement, which contributed to their ongoing estrangement.

Despite the ongoing conflict, Thomas still believes he was a good father and does not deserve this treatment from Meghan Markle. His final hope is for his daughter to reach out, bridging the distance that has kept their family apart.