In a revealing interview with Channel 5 in the U.K., Thomas Markle, the estranged father of Meghan Markle, shared his unfiltered thoughts about his daughter and Prince Harry’s decision to step down as senior working royals — a move that shook the British monarchy and global headlines alike. The 75-year-old former Hollywood lighting director didn’t hold back, describing the couple’s choice as “embarrassing” and “cheapening” to the royal family.

“When they got married, they took on an obligation — to be part of the royals and to represent them,” Thomas said. “It would be foolish for them not to. This is one of the greatest, longest-living institutions ever. They’re destroying it. They’re cheapening it… turning it into a Walmart with a crown on it.”

The comments came shortly after Harry and Meghan’s shocking January 2020 announcement that they would “step back” as senior royals to become financially independent while continuing to support Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen later confirmed that the family had reached “a constructive and supportive way forward,” noting that while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would no longer receive Sovereign Grant funding, they would continue to uphold her values.

Still, Thomas’s remarks highlighted the deep strain within the Markle family. The father-daughter relationship has been fractured since before Meghan’s 2018 royal wedding, and his involvement in the Mail on Sunday lawsuit — which centers on the publication of a private letter Meghan wrote to him — only worsened tensions. Legal experts suggested Thomas might even be called as a witness in the case, effectively testifying against his own daughter.

Asked whether he expected reconciliation, Thomas admitted he doubted either Meghan or Harry would reach out to him. “I can’t see her reaching out to me — especially now, after what I’m saying,” he said. “But I think both of them are turning into lost souls. I don’t know what they’re looking for. I don’t think they know what they’re looking for.”

Despite the controversy, royal insiders said the Sussexes’ decision stemmed from their struggles with relentless media scrutiny and the pressures of royal life. Yet Thomas’s words — labeling their move a betrayal of royal duty — underscored the personal and public conflicts that have defined the Markle family saga ever since Meghan’s entrance into the royal world.