Thomas Markle has been estranged from his youngest daughter Meghan Markle since shortly after her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018.

Thomas Markle is likely "very sad" to be missing out on yet another special family occasion because of his strained relationship with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, a royal expert claimed.

The former television lighting director has been effectively estranged from his youngest daughter since after her wedding to Harry in 2018.

He was due to fly to the UK to walk her down the aisle, but news of an agreement with the paparazzi paired with a heart attack days before the ceremony prevented him from attending.

Markle is not believed to have seen the Duchess of Sussex since – and he has repeatedly complained about never meeting his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

With Lilibet's birthday looming, royal expert Phil Dampier spoke of the distress Mr Markle shares with King Charles as he misses out on yet another special occasion.

Princess Lilibet Diana will be turning three on June 4. (Image: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Misan Harriman)

Speaking to The Sun's Royal Exclusive show, Mr Dampier said: "It is amazing that she's already three but there is this underlying sadness of course because of the rift that the King is not seeing his grandchildren.

“I think he's only met Lilibet possibly once and Archie only a couple of times and they are seventh and eighth in line to the throne, growing up in California on the West Coast of America with American accents and they just don't see them.”

During her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, the Duchess claimed her father had lied to her about speaking to the British press in what she dubbed a "betrayal" she couldn't "reconcile."

Mr Dampier added: "So that is the underlying sadness and whether they're going to one day heal this rift, we don't know, but at the moment I don't think there's much prospect.”

The royal expert also argued Harry and Meghan face the prospect of intense questioning from Lilibet and Archie when they are older on the lack of contact with both families.

He said: "When they get a bit older, are they going to start asking questions ‘How have we got to this situation’, ‘How is it I don't see my grandparents’, ‘How is it I don't have anything to do with the Royal Family?’

“When they get old, that's probably when the problem is going to start and it's going to be difficult for them.”

Lilibet, who will be turning three on June 4, is believed to have met the King in person only once when her parents brought her and Archie to the UK to celebrate the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

While Archie was born in the UK and met his grandfather on multiple occasions, he was barely six months old when he moved to North America with his parents.

SO, BACK IN 2020, MEGXIT HAPPENED. HARRY AND MEGHAN DECIDED TO STEP BACK FROM ROYAL DUTIES, CITING PRIVACY CONCERNS AND A DESIRE FOR INDEPEN…

So, back in 2020, Megxit happened. Harry and Meghan decided to step back from royal duties, citing privacy concerns and a desire for independence. They landed in Los Angeles and signed a hefty deal with Netflix, aiming to produce content that resonates with people and avoids airing their family’s dirty laundry.

Their first swing at it was the Harry and Meghan docuseries, a six-hour marathon of them playing the victims. Then came Harry’s docuseries about the Invictus Games, which felt more like him using wounded veterans’ stories as a backdrop for his own pity party. Meghan’s contributions included a kid’s show and a podcast where she interviewed celebs about female stereotypes.

But despite the hype, their projects didn’t exactly set the world on fire. Netflix and Spotify both passed on renewing their deals, and here’s why: according to royal insider Richard Fitzwilliams, it’s partly because Netflix’s interest waned after “The Crown” ended. Translation? Netflix only liked Harry because he was providing juicy material for their hit show.

As for Meghan’s projects, well, let’s just say they weren’t exactly A-list. Fitzwilliams suggests they need more high-profile endorsements to stay relevant. And then there’s the cash. That $100 million Netflix deal was their golden ticket, but without it, their financial independence plan looks shaky.

The Sussexes’ brand is toxic, even in Hollywood. They trash the monarchy with one hand while cashing in on its prestige with the other. It’s no wonder Netflix said, “thanks, but no thanks.”