Following his daughter Meghan Markle and her husband Prince Harry’s tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey earlier this week, Thomas Markle joined Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid to discuss the fallout on Good Morning Britain. During the CBS interview, Oprah had quizzed the Duchess of Sussex on whether she felt “betrayed” by her father after he’d denied speaking with tabloids, something he’s gone on to take responsibility and apologise to the two for. He reiterated this apology today but also pointed out he felt he and his family felt they weren’t supported.
After discussing the setup paparazzi shots Thomas had organised in a bid to build his public image, Susanna asked: “When Megan said to you why have you done that, did you discuss that?
“I denied it,” Thomas admitted before Susanna continued: ‘Do you wish you’d done something differently?”
“I wish I hadn’t done the whole thing,” Thomas said.
However, he did explain: “But here’s the other side of this coin, no-one took any time to protect any member of this family, we were attacked by the press every day – nobody was there to care for us.”
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Thomas was also played the moment from Meghan and Harry’s interview in which they discuss the supposed “betrayal” from her father.
The question didn’t air as part of the main interview but was released post-broadcast.
In it, Oprah asked: “Did it feel like a betrayal when you found your father was working with tabloids?”
Meghan responded: “I’m just trying to decide if I’m even comfortable talking about that, if we’re gonna use the word betrayal its because when I asked him, he said ‘no, absolutely not.'”
Taking aim at Prince Harry, Thomas swiped: “I also said we all make mistakes but I’ve never played naked pool and I’ve never dressed up as a Hitler.
“And I’m sure that made Meghan angry at me but that’s what I felt at the time.”
Thomas also delved into the thought process that led to him speaking with the press and setting up posed shots ahead of his daughter’s wedding to Prince Harry.
“Well, my oldest daughter was contacted by a photographer who was told if you can convince your dad we can make it look good,” he said.
Thomas continued: “I couldn’t go anywhere or do anything without being photographed.
“They were making me look like an alcoholic and they were calling me names – maybe I got sucked into this (deal) but I believed him that it was gonna make me look better.
“Bottom line is he was supposed to be at a long-distance shooting on a long lens (but) he walked into most of the scenes.”
Thomas also revealed he thought the backlash following the media stint would die down after a day, something he apologised for once more during the chat.
Good Morning Britain continues weekdays at 6am on ITV.