Meghan Markle's father is desperate to reconcile with his daughter through any means necessary so that he can see his grandchild when Meghan gives birth next year.
Thomas Markle, 74, who had no idea his daughter was pregnant until he heard it on his car radio, has stepped up efforts to heal their rift since learning his daughter, the Duchess of Sussex, is pregnant.
According to Mirror, royal sources claim he has spoken of his "rights" and how the tot will be part of his family too, having "Markle blood" as well as "blue blood".
Thomas has made more approaches to Kensington Palace and even appealed to Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who married Prince Harry and Meghan, for help.
And sources say his anger at being cut out of his daughter’s life is such that he may even hire a legal team to force visits through the courts.
A source said:
The palace is acutely aware of what problems could lie ahead with Thomas. He strongly believes the baby should be as much a part of his life as they will be Prince Charles’s.
Thomas says the Markle blood will be as much in the child’s veins as the ‘blue blood’ of the royals and he has ‘rights’. He admits mistakes but with Meghan pregnant, he is desperate to heal the rift.
Thomas has reached out to Kensington Palace more so since news of Meghan’s pregnancy broke, hoping the baby will be what finally breaks their estrangement.
He has offered to fly to the UK if he can sit down with Meghan, 37, and Prince Harry, 34, when they return from their royal tour of Australia.
Thomas spoke of his feelings when he first heard on the radio that his daughter was expecting a baby.
He said:
The first thing I thought about was holding Meghan as a newborn. I thought, ‘My baby is having a baby’. A baby is a blessing and I look forward to seeing a little Meghan or a little Harry.
Friends of the retired film lighting technician claim he would even like the baby to be called Thomas if Meghan has a boy. His only son is also called Thomas.
Meghan has not spoken to her dad since her wedding in May.