'The healing between Meghan and Thomas has to happen before Archie's even part of it'

Ellen Manning
Updated

Meghan Markle has to heal the rift with her father before he has anything to do with her son, a royal expert has said.

Royal commentator Omid Scobie said ‘healing has to happen’ between the Duchess of Sussex and father Thomas Markle.

He was speaking on Yahoo UK’s ‘The Royal Box’ after Archie’s private christening in Windsor on Saturday 6 July, which Meghan’s estranged father was not present for.

He said: “I think that healing has to happen between Thomas and Meghan first before Archie even becomes part of this, because at the moment I can imagine that Harry and Meghan’s top priority is protecting him and keeping him around people that they can trust.”

Thomas Markle spoke to the Mail on Sunday following Archie’s christening, which was attended by Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland, saying he would have liked to have been there but wishes his daughter, son-in-law and baby grandson 'health and happiness'.

READ MORE: Details of Archie's christening revealed

This official handout Christening photograph released by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shows Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (centre left), and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex holding their baby son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor flanked by (L-R) Britain's Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Ms Doria Ragland, Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle, west of London on July 6, 2019. - Prince Harry and his wife Meghan had their baby son Archie christened on Saturday at a private ceremony. (Photo by Chris ALLERTON / SUSSEXROYAL / AFP) / XGTY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / SUSSEXROYAL / CHRIS ALLERTON" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - NO COMMERCIAL USE - NO THIRD PARTY SALES - RESTRICTED TO SUBSCRIPTION USE - NO CROPPING OR MODIFICATION - NOT FOR USE AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2019 - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS / (Photo credit should read CHRIS ALLERTON/AFP/Getty Images)
Meghan Markle's estranged fatherThomas was not present for her baby son's christening (Picture: CHRIS ALLERTON/AFP/Getty Images)

He told the newspaper: "I have been asked if I would have liked to have gone to Britain to see my new grandson being christened.

"I was an altar boy at age 12, a confirmed member of the Queen's church at age 14, and Archie is my new grandson, so of course I would have enjoyed being there for the blessing, wishing Archie and his parents health and happiness."

READ MORE: Royal photographer's scathing exposé on 'sulky' Meghan and Harry

Also speaking on ‘The Royal Box’, historian Anna Whitelock added: “I think the priority has to be to neutralise Mr Markle as a kind of go-to person for the media.

“And until he stops talking to the media they are ultimately not going to be able to trust him and I think that’s the problem, especially with intention very much to keep Archie out of the public eye as far as possible.

“I think it’s going to have to be a number of years for Thomas Markle not to be talking to the press, for them to kind of build up that trust again and that’s going to take time.”

Meghan Markle walks down the aisle as she arrives in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for her wedding to Prince Harry.
Meghan's father was originally meant to walk her down the aisle but pulled out, citing health reasons (Picture: PA)

It is believed that Meghan hasn't spoken to her dad Thomas since her wedding last May.

Difficulties between the pair have been well-documented with Meghan’s father previously admitting he had staged paparazzi photos for money.

He was originally due to walk his daughter down the aisle but pulled out of the Royal wedding citing health problems.

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