Meghan Markle’s estranged dad Thomas says ‘she will make a great mum’ and says he is desperate to play a role in his grandchild’s life

THOMAS Markle was told of estranged daughter Meghan’s pregnancy before yesterday’s official announcement — and said proudly: “She will make a great mum.”

He was delighted at the news and is desperate to play a role in his grandchild’s life.

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Royals including the Queen and Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Camilla, and Prince William and Kate, were told last week and quietly celebrated at Princess Eugenie’s wedding.

Yesterday’s official announcement revealed Meghan’s mum Doria Ragland also knew and was “very happy” — but the Kensington Palace statement made no mention of Thomas.

The former Hollywood lighting director, 74, has not spoken to Meghan or Harry since the day after their wedding in May.

And he is not thought to have learned of the pregnancy directly from Meghan.

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But a source close to him said: “Thomas is absolutely delighted. He heard the news before it was made public and was overjoyed. He thinks Meghan will make a great mum as she is already so maternal.

“Thomas sees this as a chance to fix the problems between him, Meghan and Harry. He is desperate to be there for his grandchild and wants to play an active role in their life.”

After hearing the news, Thomas sent a text to inform his other daughter Samantha — Meghan’s half-sister — who is on holiday in Ireland.

Wheelchair-bound Samantha, who has multiple sclerosis, also hopes the impending birth will bring the family back together.

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She told The Sun: “It just makes everything that happened over the last year disappear. I want Meghan to be happy and calm and have peace. Everybody needs to be positive.

“I would hope that — for the sake of the baby, the family, the world and my dad — that leaving him out of the statement was not intentional.

“I hope my dad is included and at a proper time. If he is excluded, I won’t be happy. It is in the best interests of the baby for my dad to be included.

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“A baby changes everything and softens everyone. I would only hope that there would be some adjustment or some way of including him.”

Samantha went shopping yesterday to buy a congratulations card to send to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

And while she hopes olive branches of reconciliation will be extended, she is also keen to protect her dad.

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She added: “I think we all have to safeguard against any negative or hurt feelings and just work towards a positive joyous new life in the world.

“At a proper time, there should be a sit-down wherein everyone can address this properly. Everything has to work itself out. I want to allow Meg and Harry to bring my dad into it in their own appropriate time because they very well should do. Although I can still say I love my sister, I wasn’t happy with the way my father was being treated.

“But, you know, we’re also seeing now that there was a lot going on — there may have been a lot of stress.

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“I’m not saying that’s an excuse for not communicating with my dad, but maybe she wanted to wait until the exact right moment. I don’t want Meg to feel any stress and I want my dad to feel happy and I think all things will come full circle.”

Meghan and Thomas’s relationship came under the spotlight in the run-up to her wedding to Prince Harry — and he was accused of repeatedly embarrassing her. Days before the nuptials, it emerged Thomas staged photos of being measured for his wedding suit and reading a book on British history in return for cash from a paparazzi snapper.

He then did not walk Meghan down the aisle after claims he was suffering heart problems.

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In June, Thomas appeared on Good Morning Britain and discussed his personal relationship with Meghan and her new husband. In July he told The Sun on Sunday he felt Meghan was “terrified” in her new role.

He also told the Mail on Sunday she would be “nothing” without him, adding: I made her the Duchess she is today.” Despite the divide, Thomas has since tried to contact Meghan through official channels, but has been ignored.

Samantha insists his health is worse than Meghan realises — losing 40lb and with breathing issues after his heart scare. She urged Meghan to be the “loving woman I know she is”.

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But she also believes Thomas’s second wife Doria — Meghan’s mum — is behind his isolation. She added: “She has a very domineering personality and I think she has been at the helm of Meghan’s disregard.

“I don’t feel she has any right to dominate the scene. And certainly not to reject, isolate, hurt and disrespect our father. And I’m surprised that Meg would allow that to happen.”

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