Family rifts always painful, whether you’re a royal or not
constant spotlight while being married into one of the world’s most watched and critiqued families is impossible to imagine.
There is a litany of reasons why someone might cut a family member out.
In Meghan’s case, it’s probably because her father disrespected the life she has now chosen, putting at threat her entry into the royal family.
Only two weeks ago Mr Markle opened up the doors of his Mexican home to show the scrapbooks containing the cards and letters his daughter once sent to him.
His decision sparked a backlash with critics pleading with him to hold his counsel.
But whether the holiday season has taken its effect on me already, it was difficult not to feel sorry for the ageing pensioner as he spoke on Good Morning Britain about he is now facing Christmas alone.
This is the first one he hasn’t received a card from his little girl, and it is clearly breaking his heart.
For a man once told by Meghan “Daddy, because you have always been so generous with me, and taken the best care of me, it brings me so much joy to be able to give you this, this Christmas. I love you to the end, Meg,” the bitter pill has still not been swallowed.
As he appeared on TV the pain he felt was hard to watch.
“I have been trying to reach out for several weeks, every day I try to text her, but haven’t received anything back,” he said.
“There has to be a place for me – I’m her father and will be the grandfather of her children.”
When he was asked about what he hoped for, he sadly responded: “All families, royal or otherwise, are the same and should be together at the holidays.”
He looked completely lost while bereft of ideas of how to gain back the daughter he once held so close.
The year-long saga has been like a never-ending pantomime.
On one side is the ailing Mr Markle, growing weary in his dotage as he suffers ill health.
On the other is his daughter, married into royalty, who is by the week being increasingly cast as the evil villain. It was never going to be a fairytale. The speed in which Harry and Hollywood star Meghan met, got engaged, married and became expectant parents caused concern among royal watchers.
But after initially being seen as a glamorous actress who could follow in the footsteps of Princess Diana, Meghan is now being painted by some as the jealous queen from Snow White.
Claims she made Kate cry over Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress, diva demands for air fresheners at her wedding, being “downright rude” to staff and emailing aides at 5am with orders, have seen public perception around her shift.
Whether they are true or not, we don’t know, but I don’t doubt they may have some merit as well as a degree of malice too.
However, the bottom line is ‘Duchess Difficult’ as she has become known, is breaking her father’s heart. Cutting her father out of her life may eventually blow up in Meghan’s face, adding to the growing fear she is no Snow White who has found her Prince Charming.
The year-long saga has been like a never-ending pantomime.