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InsightThe Sussexes

The father of the bride: Thomas Markle

We have heard a lot in the past week about how Thomas Markle is sadly unable to attend the Royal Wedding and he has been receiving a lot of negative press lately. Rather than looking into negative rumours, let’s have a look into Thomas as a person and learn more about him.

Thomas was married to Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland in 1979 but the pair divorced eight years later with Meghan being their only child together. Thomas, however, has two other children from another relationship, though Meghan is not close to her half-siblings.

Thomas currently lives in Mexico as he enjoys his retirement from a successful career as a TV lighting director. It is believed that Meghan got her work ethic from her father when she visited sets he worked on as a child, and this could have inspired her career as an actress. Thomas worked on many successful shows including Married with children and General hospital which earned him a Daytime Emmy in 2011.

Meghan adores her father and admits she has always been a daddy’s girl. She has commented on how his ‘blood, sweat and tears’ went into giving her a better life than his own simple upbringing in Pennsylvania. She has also stated that her father’s hugs were the best in the whole wide world on her social media accounts, so it is clear that despite her parents’ divorce and problems in the past Meghan cares for her father very much.

73-year-old Thomas is currently recovering from heart surgery which took place earlier this week and is said to be devastated to be missing his daughter’s wedding. We wish him a speedy recovery, and it is important to remember he is still the father of the bride despite being unable to attend the big day!