Thomas Markle, the estranged father of Meghan Markle has said he’s ‘disappointed’ after his daughter and Prince Harry revealed that they were stepping back as senior members of Britain’s royal family.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made the shocking announcement on Wednesday and said they intend to become financially independent’ and to ‘balance’ their time between the U.K. and North America.

Shortly after they announced the news, Meghan’s estranged father spoke out, telling Us Weekly: ‘I’ll just simply say I’m disappointed.’ But the 74-year-old retiring lighting director did not state further on the cause of his disappointment.

Thomas Markle and her daughter have been estranged for so many years. He has not had contact with her even before her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018.

In an interview with the Daily Mail newspaper last year, Markle pleaded for reconciliation. 

‘I would like them to send me a picture of Archie so I can frame it and put it on my wall beside the one of Meghan. Isn’t that what any grandfather would want? I’d love to know if he’s got the famous Markle nose,’ Markle said.

‘Sometimes I get the feeling people think I don’t love my daughter. I do love her very much. I would love nothing more than to put a picture of Archie in a frame and place it beside the one of Meghan.

‘There was never any problem between Meghan and me until recently. I’ve stayed quiet because Meghan was pregnant with Archie but I’m speaking out now because they and their PR people are continuing to ghost me out of her life.

Of course, I’m disappointed not to see Archie. I had hoped becoming a mother would mellow Meghan and she would reach out.’