[ad_1]
Meghan Markle baby: Queen tribute discussed by Mills
Hours after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced the arrival of Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor to the world, Meghan’s dad issued a heart-warming message. The 76-year-old who has never met his two-year-old grandson Archie welcomed the news that his daughter had given birth to a baby girl in Santa Barbara, California.
He told the Sun Online: “I’m very pleased that my daughter and my new granddaughter had a successful delivery.
“I wish them all my love and the best of luck.”
The retired Hollywood lighting director has been estranged from his daughter since before her wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018.
After he was caught staging paparazzi photos with a photographer, Thomas claimed he suffered two heart attacks and pulled out of the royal wedding.
Thomas Markle said he is ‘very pleased’ to have a granddaughter (Image: ITV/Global Citizen)
Meghan is estranged from her father Thomas (Image: ITV)
He later revealed he had had a tense phone conversation with Harry and Meghan from his hospital bed just days before their big day.
More than three yeas on, Thomas has yet to meet his son-in-law and grandson Archie, who turned two in May.
And the difficult family situation suggests Thomas makes it difficult to predict if Thomas will ever get to meet his granddaughter Lili.
Meghan is understood to be close to her mother Doria Ragland, 64, whom Thomas divorced when the duchess was just six years old.
READ MORE: Meghan and Harry name baby after Queen to show ‘family still matters’
Meghan and Harry announced the birth of Lili on Sunday (Image: GETTY)
Having flown to the UK ahead of the birth of Archie in May 2019, Doria didn’t have to travel so far this time around.
She lives in Windsor Hills, a suburb of Los Angeles which is a two hour drive from Meghan and Harry’s home in Montecito.
In their statement, the Sussexes did not mention if Doria was present at the birth but she is believed to enjoy a close relationship with her grandson Archie.
Amid her ongoing feud with her father, the duchess chose to honour the Queen when it came to naming her daughter.
DON’T MISS
Where was Prince Harry’s baby born? Inside the California hospital [EXPLAINED]
Meghan Markle & Prince Harry new baby honours Queen & Princess Diana [ANALYSIS]
Princess Eugenie congratulates ‘dear cousins’ on birth of Lilibet [INSIGHT]
Meghan and Harry’s celebrated Archie’s second birthday in May (Image: Getty/Archewell)
Meghan and Harry’s son Archie turned two in May (Image: YouTube)
The move may be perceived as the Sussexes extending an olive branch to the monarch following Megxit and their public disagreements with the Firm.
Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, released a lengthy statement on Sunday announcing the arrival of their baby Lilibet, which is a family nickname for the 95-year-old monarch.
The couple said: “On June 4, we were blessed with the arrival of our daughter, Lili.
Meghan’s family tree (Image: EXPRESS)
“She is more than we could have ever imagined, and we remain grateful for the love and prayers we’ve felt from across the globe.
“Thank you for your continued kindness and support during this very special time for our family.”
Harry and Meghan said Lilibet’s middle name was chosen to honour her grandmother, Princess Diana, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997.
Meghan and baby Lili are doing well, the couple said (Image: GETTY)
The tot is eighth in line to the throne behind her bother and father.
After hours of silence, Buckingham Palace released a statement saying the Queen was delighted at the arrival of her 11th great-grandchild.
A spokesperson for the palace said: “The Queen, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been informed and are delighted with the news of the birth of a daughter for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.”
[ad_2]
