The sad reality for Thomas Markle and Prince Charles after birth of granddaughter Lilibet

Thomas Markle and Prince Charles will be waiting a while to meet their granddaughter Lilibet Diana

Thomas Markle and Prince Charles will be waiting a while to meet their granddaughter Lilibet Diana
(Image credit: Samir Hussein - Pool / Getty Images)

Thomas Markle and Prince Charles will be waiting a while to see their new granddaughter, with chances of a family reunion any time soon looking "unlikely."


Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced the birth of their daughter, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, on Sunday, and are currently settling the newborn in at their $14 million Santa Barbara mansion

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex delighted royal fans by naming their second child after both the Queen and the late Princess Diana, two people particularly close to Harry's heart. Doria Ragland was also honored by Meghan in Lilibet Diana’s name with a sweet tribute to her American childhood. The duchess is known to be very close with her mother, who has reportedly moved in with her and Harry to help with the new baby. 

While there's plenty of respect for the maternal sides of their families, the same cannot be said for Meghan and Harry's respective fathers. Neither Thomas Markle nor Prince Charles is expected to meet Lilibet Diana this summer, with both men on rocky terms with their adult children. 

"As it stands it seems unlikely that either grandfather will meet their new granddaughter for some time," said royal biographer Robert Jobson. "Thomas is not the only one facing problems with Harry and Meghan." 

Prince Harry stunned listeners of the Armchair Expert podcast last month when he revealed to host Dax Shepard that his mental health problems were caused by "genetic pain and suffering." The controversial statement prompted a surge of strong reactions, with many royal fans criticizing the duke for speaking negatively of his father's parenting in public. Prince Charles was questioned over Prince Harry's comments about the royal family on the podcast but refused to give any thoughts on the accusations. 

Meghan has also had her fair share of conflict with her father, Thomas Markle. The duchess has been embroiled in a very public rift with her dad ever since his alleged involvement with the British paparazzi in the run-up to her wedding in 2018. Their relationship took a turn for the worse when he continued to speak to the tabloids about his daughter, despite reports that she had asked him to stop.

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.


Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.