King Charles Faces Uncertainty Over Seeing Grandchildren, Fundraiser for Meghan Markle’s Father Surpasses Goals
King Charles may face the grim possibility of never again meeting his youngest grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, following recent comments from Prince Harry. The Duke of Sussex has expressed concerns for his family's safety in the United Kingdom, citing the stripping of his taxpayer-funded security detail after he ceased his duties as a working royal. The last time King Charles saw Archie and Lilibet was during Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022, just months before her passing at 96.
In a candid interview on the ITV documentary "Tabloids on Trial", Prince Harry remarked, “All it takes is for one lone actor who reads this stuff to act on what they’ve read. And whether it’s a knife or acid, these are things that are genuine concerns for me."
Royal expert Joe Little of Majesty magazine commented on the situation, asserting, "It would be great to think that at some point soon the King would get to visit the grandchildren that he has seen very little of. But he is 75 and still not in the best of health. A visit to America is unlikely to be a priority now, given the other demands on his time. It’s an incredibly sad situation that few would have predicted even five years ago."
In a parallel narrative, a fundraiser aiming to support Meghan Markle's estranged father, Thomas Markle, has exceeded expectations, raising £45,000 — nearly five times its original goal of £10,000. The GoFundMe campaign, established by royal commentator and socialite Lady Colin Campbell, was initiated after Mr. Markle expressed his birthday wish to reconnect with his daughter, although he acknowledged the unlikelihood of this happening.
Thomas Markle, who recently turned 80, voiced his desire to meet his grandchildren, saying, “I would love to meet my grandchildren, but I would be happy with a photograph at this stage.” His relationship with Meghan deteriorated in 2018 following a staged paparazzi photoshoot scandal prior to her wedding to Prince Harry. Despite being slated to walk her down the aisle, Mr. Markle had to withdraw due to health issues, suffering two heart attacks.
The fundraiser is intended to show support and solidarity for Mr. Markle. Lady Colin Campbell explained the motive behind the campaign, stating, “His kindness and generosity are well known in the film community, and I agree that now that he has been rejected and abandoned by the daughter, those of us who wish to show him solidarity and give him the acknowledgement he should be getting from the actual recipient of his largesse, will hopefully, through our contributions, no matter how small, demonstrate to him that there are still people in the world with good hearts, good values, and good intentions.”
Mr. Markle reminisced about his once-strong bond with Meghan and expressed confusion over Prince Harry's lack of effort to meet him before their marriage. He conveyed this sentiment to the MailOnline, saying, "What man gets married without meeting his wife’s father?"
Contributors to the GoFundMe have left heartfelt messages, with one donor from New Zealand hoping Mr. Markle gets to see his grandchildren soon, while another reflected on the personal pain of losing a father.
The Independent has reached out to Lady Colin Campbell and representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their comments on these ongoing issues. The contrasting narratives illuminate the complex familial dynamics within royal circles, underscoring the personal strife and public interest intertwined with their lives.