Thomas Markle says Prince Harry said to give Donald Trump a chance

LONDON — The father of the former Meghan Markle said he talked politics with Prince Harry over the phone — and Harry argued he should give President Donald Trump a chance.

Thomas Markle told broadcaster ITV on Monday that he had several phone conversations with Harry, including one in which the prince asked for permission to marry his daughter.

Markle said Trump was discussed at least once: “Our conversation was I was complaining about not liking Donald Trump, he said ‘give Donald Trump a chance.’ I sort of disagreed with that.”

Markle said he also asked his future son-in-law about Britain’s 2016 decision to leave the European Union and got the impression Harry is comfortable with Brexit.

“I think he was open to the experiment,” Markle said.

Harry’s press office declined to comment on Markle’s televised interview, which could raise eyebrows because senior royal figures are scrupulously careful not to comment publicly on domestic or international political affairs.

Markle, who had been scheduled to walk his daughter down the aisle, missed the royal wedding in May because of heart problems. He told ITV he was “doing much better” and he regretted missing the big event.

The 73-year-old Markle, who watched the wedding from California, said he was “very proud” but “the unfortunate thing for me now is I’m a footnote in one of the greatest moments in history rather than the dad walking her down the aisle.”