If Thomas Markle can come back from a series of damaging events that led to his estrangement from daughter Meghan Markle, then it might be safe to assume that anything is possible.
Indeed the pregnant Duchess’ father shocked the world when he staged paparazzi photos ahead of her royal wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018.
Then came a slew of criticism towards the royal family, several globally televised interviews pleading for her attention, and the dramatic unveiling of a letter written to his daughter which proved the tragic extent of their rift.
But if there was ever a time to bury the hatchet, it seems now might be it – a surprising new report claims Meghan has decided she’s ready to extend an olive branch to her father.
Meghan is reportedly going to make amends with her estranged father. (Images: Good Morning Britain (L), Getty (R) )
Speaking to the Mail On Sunday, a friend of Meghan said she was ready to start a new chapter as she welcomes her first child with Prince Harry.
“Meghan hopes and prays that the baby will bring her family back together,” the friend revealed.
“She plans to extend an olive branch to the family and invite them to visit after the baby is born – her sister [Samantha Markle] included.”
According to the publication’s source, the Duchess of Sussex had told her friends that she understood the pressure her family members were under and felt “saddened” by what they had endured.
Furthermore, Meghan’s estranged family was also “well aware that she has always been busy and have always supported her efforts in the past, despite it leaving her little time to spend with them.”
The news of a potential reunion comes as a surprise to many following the backlash incited by Thomas and Meghan’s sister Samantha since the royal wedding.
In January, Samantha went on yet another personal tirade against her sister, saying she should be more grateful towards her father.
“Thank him for your college education, your career, building every stage you set foot on, but really appreciate the people that care about you.”
WATCH: Samantha Markle is called out by British reporter. Story continues after video…
And after Meghan celebrated her baby shower in a lavish penthouse location in New York last month, Samantha called her out for not having visited him despite being in the same country.
“Setting all personal things aside, I understand a baby shower is an exciting time – it’s about getting with friends, getting things ready for the baby.
‘But you are on this continent Meghan and I would just really love to see her have contact with my dad while she’s here,” she told DailyMailTV.
Samantha Markle has also delivered a series of candid interviews detailing Meghan’s fractured relationship with her father. (Images: Getty (L), Good Morning Britain (R) )
In February, Thomas released excerpts from a letter Meghan wrote him shortly after her royal wedding to Prince Harry.
“Daddy, it is with a heavy heart that I write this, not understanding why you have chosen to take this path, turning a blind eye to the pain you’re causing,” she penned.
“Your actions have broken my heart into a million pieces – not simply because you have manufactured such unnecessary and unwarranted pain, but by making the choice to not tell the truth as you are puppeteered in this. Something I will never understand.”
Thomas then responded to the letter, claiming it made no attempt to make amends between the father and daughter.
“I thought it would be an olive branch. Instead, it was a dagger to the heart,” he told Mail On Sunday.
In fact, Thomas kept the letter concealed in a briefcase because it was “just too painful” to share.
“I was expecting something that would be a pathway to reconciliation. Instead, it was deeply hurtful.”
Thomas and Meghan previously shared a close relationship. (Image: The Tig)
In December 2018, it was claimed that Meghan was “holding crisis talks” in the aftermath of an interview Thomas had given to Good Morning Britain, where he claimed he had been “ghosted” and cut off from his daughter.
“Every day I try to text her. I just haven’t received any comment back. I just keep asking her to respond back to me. I haven’t got any response back. I’ve sent a letter as well,” Thomas told the UK breakfast show.
But his on-screen tirade reportedly left royal officials “enraged and yet exhausted”, with The Mirror reporting that Meghan was holding crisis talks with her team to work out a solution to troubleshoot her father.
“Even though the royal household is treating Meghan’s fallout with her father as a private matter, concern is circling that the situation is reaching a crisis point,” an insider explained.
WATCH: Thomas Markle speaks out on daughter Meghan, claims she ‘ghosted’ him. Story continues after video…
In spite of this, there’s no denying Meghan and Thomas shared a close bond while she was growing up, with Meghan previously speaking his praises in an interview: “Both my parents came from little, so they made a choice to give a lot.”
And with only weeks to go until she welcomes her own child to the world, there doesn’t seem a better time for the pair to reunite. We’ll be hoping for a good outcome on both sides.
