Meghan's dad joins backlash

The father and half-brother of the Duchess of Sussex slam her new Netflix show, as an expert gives new an analysis of their family issues

- Mitya Underwood

The Duchess of Sussex’s father added more fuel to the already burning flames of their estrangement last week when he accused her of being “inauthentic” in her new Netflix series.

Thomas Markle Sr, 80, who reportedly hasn’t spoken to Meghan for a number of years, told a newspaper the 43-year-old appeared “pre-planned and rehearsed” in her With Love, Meghan show.

The retired TV lighting director claimed he could tell when his daughter was “faking it” for the cameras, adding, “She’s trying so hard to be perfect that she tenses up every time the camera is on her.”

Meghan, who amid all the criticism announced that she had already filmed a second series of the lifestyle show and was also launching a new podcast, reportedly hasn’t had any meaningful contact with her father since shortly after her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.

She told Oprah Winfrey in her and Harry’s bombshell interview in 2021 that she felt she’d “lost my [her] father”, and given Thomas’ latest attack on his daughter, a reconciliation seems unlikely any time soon.

Adding to the family backlash, Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, also spoke to American media last week, slamming the eight-part series. As well as taking issue with some of Meghan’s recollections of her childhood, the 58-year-old was highly dismissive of the show, saying, “Halfway through, I realised there’s something better I could be doing with my time.”