Thomas Markle wishes estranged daughter, Duchess Meghan, a ‘healthy birth’ of second child

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Duchess Meghan’s estranged father, Thomas Markle, has wished her a “successful, healthy birth” of her second child.

The 39-year-old royal announced over the weekend she is expecting her second child with her husband Prince Harry – with whom she already has 21-month-old son Archie – and now her father, whom she has been estranged from since tying the knot with Harry in 2018, has sent his well wishes to the couple.

Speaking to CBS TV’s Inside Edition, Thomas said: “I wish Meghan and Harry a successful, healthy birth and I hope some day I get to see my grandchildren. They’re all royal grandchildren.”

Meghan hasn’t been in contact with her father since her 2018 wedding, after it was revealed Thomas, 76, had colluded with the paparazzi to stage photographs ahead of Meghan’s big day.

Gallery: 10 “commoners” who married into royalty (BANG Showbiz)

And they lived happily ever after!

It’s safe to say we’re all obsessed with royal romances. Particularly the idea of mere mortals marrying into royal families and living happily ever after! So we’ve put together our favourite selection of non-royals who’ve lived out their very own Disney fairytale by marrying royalty. Here are the Top 10 “commoners” to marry into royal families…

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

Meghan Markle is a real-life American fairytale. Harry reportedly developed a crush on the then actress after seeing her on the TV series ‘Suits’ two years before the two were introduced by a mutual friend in July 2016. After their engagement, Markle revealed that she would be “retiring” from her acting career. The couple married on the 19th May 2018 in a ceremony at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Prince Christian of Hanover and Alessandra De Osma

Prince Christian of Hanover met Alessandra De Osma when she served as his tour guide during one of his visits to her country of Peru in 2005. The lawyer and former model married her prince in an extravagant ceremony in the streets of Lima in 2018. On July 7th, 2020, Alessandra de Osma gave birth to twins, one boy and one girl in Madrid.

Prince Casimir zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn and Alana Bunte

Alana Bunte was an American model before she married Prince Casimir zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, an Austrian descendant of England’s King James II. Prince Casimir had previously been married to Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, but they divorced in 2005. He then dated “Real Housewives of New York” star Tinsley Mortimer before he met Bunte. The couple announced their engagement in June 2017, after meeting in London, they tied the knot in a 12th-century castle in Bendorf, Germany.

Duchess of Värmland, Sofia Hellqvist and Prince Carl Phillip

Before becoming Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Värmland, Sofia Hellqvist was a model and reality TV contestant. Prince Carl Phillip is the son of Queen Silvia Sommerlath and King Carl Gustf of Sweden. The prince and Sofia began dating in 2010 after meeting through mutual friends at a nightclub in Båstad, Southern Sweden. The couple married in June 2015 and have two children, Prince Alexander, who was born in April 2016, and they welcomed their second child, Prince Gabriel, in August 2017.

Pierre Casiraghi and Beatrice Borromeo

Prince Pierre Casiraghi and Beatrice Borromeo met while they were studying at the University Luigi Bocconi in Milan. Before marriage, Beatrice received degrees in law and journalism and contributed to Newsweek and The Daily Beast. In 2014 Pierre Casiraghi, who is the grandson of Grace Kelly, married Beatrice Borromeo in Monte Carlo.

Kate Middleton and Prince William

Kate was studying art history at the University of St. Andrews when she met Prince William in 2001. Their relationship spanned almost a decade before they became engaged in 2010 and tied the knot on April 29, 2011. The future Queen now goes by the name Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. The couple have three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Charlene Wittstock and Prince Albert II, the Prince of Monaco

Former South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock married Grace Kelly’s son Prince Albert II, the Prince of Monaco in 2011, at the Prince’s Monaco palace. The couple met 10 years prior at a swimming competition in Monaco. They went public with their relationship in 2006 at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics. Charlene, who became the Princess of Monaco, gave birth to twins in 2014.

Prince Joachim of Denmark and Princess Marie Agathe Odile Cavallier

Prince Joachim and Princess Marie met while Joachim was still married to his first wife, Countess Alexandra. Marie had a highly successful career in marketing with having worked at Estée Lauder and Reuter’s financial news agency Radianz. She first came to public attention when she was photographed on a private holiday in France with the Prince in August 2005. In 2007, it was officially announced that Marie Cavallier was engaged to Prince Joachim. The wedding took place on 24 May 2008 in Møgeltønder Church.

Silvia Sommerlath and Prince Carl Gustaf of Sweden

Silvia was working as a hostess at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich when she met then-Prince Carl Gustaf of Sweden. The prince ascended to the throne after the death of his grandfather in 1973. The couple married in 1976 and Silvia became the Queen of Sweden. The happy couple now have three children and seven grandchildren.

Grace Kelly with Rainier III, the Prince of Monaco

Grace Kelly became royalty after tying the knot with Rainier III, the Prince of Monaco. She was a famous American actress who was born in Pennsylvania but left to pursue acting in New York City, and afterwards found Hollywood stardom. They met during a photo shoot at the Cannes Film Festival in 1955. Grace retired from acting in 1956 and the couple went on to have three children. Sadly, in 1982, she suffered a stroke while driving and her car went over the edge of a 45-foot embankment. Grace died the following night at the hospital.

11/11 SLIDES

And the retired lighting director, who pulled out of attending Meghan and Harry’s wedding due to ill health, has claimed to have been “ghosted” by his daughter.

He said: “I’m not sure why it’s happening. I love my daughter very much. I wish she would reach out, send me a text, anything. There has to be a place for me. I’m her father.”

Thomas also previously claimed his daughter – whose mother, Doria Ragland, was her only relative in attendance at her wedding – has a history of “dumping” those around her.

He said: “My daughter dumped me one day before she got married, she has dumped my family, she has dumped Doria’s family, she has dumped every family and now she is dumping the British family.”

Meanwhile, Prince Harry’s family – including his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and his father, Prince Charles – are said to be “delighted” at the couple’s baby news.

A royal spokesperson said: “Her Majesty, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales and the entire family are delighted and wish them well.”

Tags: Birth, Child, Daughter, Duchess, estranged, Healthy, Markle, Meghan, Thomas, Wishes