Anyone else think Thomas Markle is not coming across well?

[LadyLightning]

He just sounds like a nightmare dad, despite doing his best to present himself as the victim here. The comment about Harry being his family whether he liked it or not? And 'what was happening was not making me happy@. He sounds like a self centred man, I think she may be much better off with no contact.

Did anybody notice that the videos from her teenage years were (as far as I could see) all 1993. I noticed as it was a significant year for me. It just made me wonder whether something was exaggerated.

I think the C5 approach for this was to kill her with kindness, to be really sweet and show his concerned, hurt side. Which he mostly did and the footage from 1993 and 1994 do show that they were very close. But then his mask slipped and the very bitter side of TM showed and that wasn't so palatable. He's a very bitter, elderly man whose feelings have been badly hurt. I'd be very worried if I was Meghan as he did hold back in a couple of areas, and I wonder if he's writing a book to be published after he dies when there will be no consequences for him.

@Catrescue1971 I noticed that too but also put it down to the same reason our family also has more videos from one era, they probably had a new camcorder and were using it alot before the appeal wore off a bit. She seemed to be doing recordings for maybe Doria? Or at least aiming her talking at someone who isn't there.

@Wingedharpy he has a nice beard and two daytime emmys, don’t think you’d kick him out of bed for eating crackers!

It was very much a "soft" interview presumably because Thomas Markle wouldn't agree to anything more probing. Never the less, I would have liked to see some attempt to have him acknowledge that he did more than just sell staged photos for £20k, for example, the steady stream of negative and critical comments from him on a daily basis which seemed designed to destroy his daughter's marriage. The interviewer, should have asked why he thought Doria had managed to navigate the exactly the same pitfalls and also probed his view that a child owes her parent money. He seems to have a very skewed view of the parent child relationship. He also seems unable to accept that most parents would never sell their child, as far as he is concerned the breakdown of his relationship with Meghan is because of things the press did to him, things the Royal Family didn't do for him, that Meghan only gave him sums amounting to £20k etc. He clearly see's himself as very passive in all things.

I was quite sympathetic until the last 5 minutes when the 'only £20k' bit came out. Not just that - the 'I deserve an award' bit. Hmm. I felt like I tipped a bit then. I would like to think that if my children became rich and famous I would still be their parent, not hope / expect money.

OK the money bit is bad, but what if there is a good reason for his jealousy? Doria had to give up her job after the engagement; surely Meghan or the RF are supporting her financially? The awful pap pictures seem to show her living a good life now, nice car and so on. Perhaps Thomas thinks that he deserves the same but it looks like it was never on offer for him, same as he didn't get the fancy invitation to the wedding that Doria got. He doesn't seem to have featured in the royal future plans at all.

But I too would get annoyed at a parent who says I've only given them £20,000 like it is spare change. She was probably earning a very good amount near the end of Suits, but a parent begging for money is a bit off. He had a good career and a lottery win.

I would certainly judge any multimillionaire who didn't help their parents financially to be fair. £20k is really not a lot to give away for someone as wealthy as MM.

um, he didn't bring her up?

My understanding is that Thomas and Doria split when Meghan was 6. She lived with her mother and he saw her at weekends etc and, aged 11, she asked if she could live with him. She lived with him until 18.

Grubby man touting out his family for cash, he should be ashamed of himself

I don't think she should be judged on photos with him as a teenager. You could find photos of me with my dad as a teen looking happy - it doesn't mean I was, or that he was an OK parent. Sometimes with a very difficult parent you give them what they want to try to keep them at bay.

We don't know if she's tried to be nice to him and then hit a wall and said no more because of his behaviour, or if he's a decent sort who's lashing out because she's mean so undeservedly mean to him. But, the fact that she has a good relationship with her mum, and that he's done things that no loving parent would ever do, make me think the former is more likely.

I mean even if you were a total bastard, who would diss their child in the press like that and reveal private letters? Apart from the impact on her, it makes him look like a dick.

I feel sorry for Thomas Markle but that interview which I watched last night on Channel 4 did not do the man any favours. Some of what he said clearly illustrated how manipulative are the press - they certainly manipulated him.

He would have gained more respect had he just made no comment at all.

I’m with Snog and divawithafever.

Re my post above, I meant Ch5 not 4.

Doria has never said a word, the woman has class.

It is sad though, Thomas and Meghan were obviously close at one time. I don't know how he can come back from that interview but the media annoy me, I wouldn't trust any of them an inch.

There's no excuse for speaking to the press. She's well rid of him. There will never be any coming back from this. He's slammed the door shut on his relationship with her.

derxa Wed 22-Jan-20 22:55:15
A very mixed picture. No one comes out well here but things could have been handled better. He definitely put her through university and she lied about it though.
........
I don't think she did lie because she did work at the jobs she talked about. Her situation was the same as many young people - parents fork out as much as they can and the children help support themselves by working. That's normal. Most parents don't go on about the amount of money they put into their children's education, if they can afford it, it's what is done.

Not everyone has parents with sufficient funds to support them through college. When Meghan was addressing those young people, she was trying to convey to them that it is possible to be a high achiever through work and scholarships.

@wowfudge. Just logical observation and my own family experiences. The people that marry into your family can have massive impact. This doesn’t appear to have been positive for anyone involved.

I think for her father the marriage brought press attention he couldn’t handle. Now he’s acted like an idiot and is estranged from his daughter and will likely never meet his grandchild or see her again. Surely the marriage has brought him no joy.

If I were here mother or even just a friend my constant concern about Meghan’s well-being as a result of marrying PH would overshadow any happiness I felt about her marriage.

Prince Will and Kate obviously cannot be happy with how things have worked out. Instead of gaining a sister they seem to have lost their brother. Obviously they were concerned from the start of the relationship.

What a daily mess for The Queen, Prince Charles. Surely you don’t think they could be happy about what’s come out of the marriage?

Harry seems to have spent the entire time trying to protect and defend her. He looks miserable.

So objectively who could possibly be happy about this union? The crazy sister who gets press attention on command and a makeover out of the deal? I do think she likes it, but she really is mad.

Ugh sorry for the novel above.

Well Harry isn't Kate's brother for starters. I think you are reading and projecting way too much into this. The Queen's statement was very positive about Meghan. Prince Charles walked her down the aisle! So much conjecture.

Home videos and childhood photos mean nothing.

I had hundreds of me. Didn't mean I was happy or loved.

Why do people watch that sort of programme? They shouldn’t give it head space. General observation tells you that he and his daughter are both guilty of bizarre, disturbing behaviour.

What a daily mess for The Queen, Prince Charles...

Yes and for the other senior Royals - particularly William. However, their adopting of the business as usual approach and their dealing with serious issues affecting people in this country and elsewhere, is the best way to keep - and gain - public approval.

“Mr Markle seemed very self-centered and manipulative at times.”

Hmmm...that reminds me of someone else. Someone else in the thread referenced narcissism.
That too is familiar in connection with this messy situation.

Sorry. Playing catch up hence all the separate posts.