Prince Charles's Father: "My Daughter and Her Husband Are Cheapening the Royal Family"

UK Channel 5 Broadcast

Partial Interview Released with Prince Harry's Father-in-Law, Thomas Markle

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jaehee] Thomas Markle, the father of Duchess Meghan Markle, harshly criticized Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who declared independence from the British royal family, saying they are "cheapening the royal family."

UK's Channel 5 aired a partial interview with Thomas Markle on the 19th (local time).

He said, "Every girl wants to be a princess, and my daughter achieved that. But she is throwing away her royal status. I think it’s probably because of money."

He continued, "The British royal family is one of the oldest and greatest institutions in existence," adding, "When my daughter married Prince Harry, she became part of the royal family and took on the duty to represent it." He then criticized, "They are destroying the royal family and making it cheap. Wearing the crown and turning the royal family into Walmart is absurd."

Thomas Markle is an American who worked as a TV director of photography and lighting. In May 2018, before his daughter’s wedding, he caused controversy by accepting money from paparazzi to take photos of the wedding preparations. He was also indecisive about attending the wedding and ultimately did not attend due to heart surgery.

Since then, he lost contact with his daughter and has repeatedly criticized her in media interviews.

Thomas Markle lamented, "My daughter does not contact me. Both of them (Harry and Markle) are becoming lost souls," and added, "I don’t even know what they are pursuing."

Channel 5 announced that it will air a documentary related to the royal family containing the full interview with Thomas Markle within a few weeks.

The couple, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who declared independence from the royal family, officially decided to relinquish their royal duties and financial support benefits starting this spring.

Prince Harry is currently staying in the UK, while Duchess Markle is reportedly living separately in Canada with their son Archie.