Thomas Markle has compared himself to King Charles as he decried the lack of contact he has with Harry and Meghan, as well as his grandchildren.
Sky News senior reporter Caroline Marcus says Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s “excuses” are wearing thin amid controversy surrounding the Archewell Foundation.
In a letter obtained by SkyNews.com.au, the Archewell Foundation is reported as “not in good standing” and is prohibited from “soliciting or disbursing charitable funds” in the state of California.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the delinquency notice on May 3 and said it was for “failing to submit required annual report(s) and/or renewal fees”.
The Archewell Foundation said they thought they had filed the correct paperwork on time and were not aware of the issue.
“They have named the foundation after their son, Archie – it all stinks really,” Ms Marcus told Sky News host Rita Panahi.
Thomas was cut off by Meghan in 2018 after he was allegedly caught selling staged paparazzi photos ahead of her globally televised wedding to Prince Harry.
The then-Prince Charles walked her down the aisle instead in the absence of her father.
Mr Markle has repeatedly tried to mend his relationship with Meghan, and is becoming more desperate as he approaches his 80th birthday, fearing whether he’ll be able to eventually meet grandchildren Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.
“I’ve never been one for birthdays, but I know the one person I most want to hear from, Meghan, won’t be in touch. I would love to meet my grandchildren, but I would be happy with a photograph at this stage,” he told the Daily Mail.
Meghan Markle’s father Thomas has issued an urgent plea in his latest attempt to repair the relationship with his daughter after a six-year estrangement. Picture: Thomas Markle: My Story.
He said he feels “deep empathy” for Charles who is in the “same boat” as him.
Harry and Meghan’s move from London to the United States has left the royal family with a fractured connection to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their children.
Charles has only met Archie a few times while Lilibet, who was born in California, is understood to have only met the King once.
“I would love to speak to him because I am sure he has as many unanswered questions as I do. Neither of us deserves the treatment we’ve received,” he said.
“He is going through cancer treatment and I’m not in the best of health. I’m not afraid of dying. It is what it is.
“I have so many questions I’d like to ask Meghan and Harry. The main one being, why have they treated not only me but the Royal Family and the King so badly.”
Thomas Markle has made an emotional plea to his daughter Meghan Markle to see his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet during his “final” TV interview on Monday, local time.
The 79-year-old told ITV’s ‘Good Morning Britain’ he felt “heartbroken” over the Duchess of Sussex denying him the right to see his grandkids.
“I’m heartbroken. I am very upset about it as well because this is a cruel thing to do to a grandparent,” he said.
Mr Markle also said there is “no excuse” for Meghan to treat him that way.
“There’s no excuse for her to treat me this way, no excuse to treat the King that way as well.”
The 79-year-old also took a dig at Prince Harry, asking why he never made an effort to meet him despite having “the resources to fly around the world.”
“What man gets married without meeting his wife’s father?” he asked.
Mr Markle also lamented the lost opportunity for Archie and Lilibet to meet their cousins.
Meghan’s father has previously used the media on several occasions to reach out to his daughter, however she has been steadfast in her refusal to patch things up.