Princess Diana would have dealt with Thomas Markle ‘the same way Prince Harry has’, according to her former butler
IN a series of interviews over the last few months, Meghan Markle's father has made some damaging comments about the royal family - including claiming Prince Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, would have "loathed" the way he was being treated.
But now, Diana's close friend and former butler, Paul Burrell, has revealed he believes that the princess would have handled the situation in the exact same way.
In an interview with New! magazine this week, 60-year-old Paul quashed Thomas' claims.
He insisted Diana would have been "furious" at Thomas' betrayal.
He also added that "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree", and he thinks Harry is actually "taking a leaf out of his mother's book".
"I've been in similar situations where people said things about Princess Diana, and the way she dealt with it was by freezing them out," Paul explained.
"It looks as if Harry has taken a leaf out of his mother's book. Diana said, 'Once someone burns the bridge of trust towards you it's very hard to repair it'."
Although Paul thinks Princess Diana would have handled the situation identically, he said life is "not going to be easy" for The Duchess.
He also spoke out about the one difference he sees between Meghan and Princess Diana, and it's all to do with 33-year-old Harry.
He said: "Meghan has something that Diana never had - a man stood beside her who truly adores her".
37-year-old Meghan reportedly hasn't spoken to her father since before her wedding to Prince Harry in May.
Just days before the big day, 74-year-old Thomas was exposed for staging paparazzi photos and later pulled out of walking Meghan down the aisle after suffering health problems.
Now, the former lighting director - along with his son Thomas Jr. and daughter Samantha, are accusing The Duchess of Sussex of "cutting [them] out".
In a string of explosive interviews, Thomas Sr. claimed the royal family are "like Scientologists" due to their "cult-like behaviour".
"I tell you, I’ve just about reached my limit on Meghan and the Royal Family. I’m about to unload on them," he said.
"Perhaps it would be easier for Meghan if I died."
Speaking to the last week, Meghan's half-brother Thomas Markle Jr. claimed he couldn't understand why his relatives were being treated differently to Kate Middleton's family.
"They have brought outsiders in before in the past like with the Middletons," he said.
"I don't see why our family is any different."
According to a source, Meghan is said to be devastated, but not surprised about her dad's outbursts.
"His behaviour is something she has had to deal with for most of her adult life," they said.
"There has been a long history of ‘dad disappointment’ with her life being splattered with upset because of her relationship with him. She isn’t shocked or surprised by his behaviour and dealt with it all with a lot of grace."
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Do you love reading about Meghan? Earlier this week, we told you the bizarre reason why Meghan Markle and Prince Harry won’t have full custody of their own kids.
We also revealed why Meghan Markle didn’t have to sign a prenup – despite Prince Harry’s £30 million fortune.
And we told you about Meghan Markle’s estranged brother Thomas says he wants his family to be treated ‘like the Middletons’.