Meghan Markle's Uncle Dies Following Parkinson's Battle — Having Never Met Harry

Jul 03, 2021 by apost team

It is well-known that Meghan Markle has cut ties with her father and his side of the family. One of her father’s older brothers, Michael Markle, passed away in June 2021 after a long-term battle with Parkinson’s and after suffering from several falls. Michael, who preferred to be called Mike, had been very outspoken in the past about Meghan’s estrangement from her father, Thomas Markle.

Mike was a United States Air Force veteran and ex-diplomat that once helped Meghan secure an internship at the American embassy in Argentina. Meghan was 20 at the time and was still considering a career in international relations. Now, Meghan is a 39-year-old former actress who is best known for her role in the legal drama “Suits.”

Meghan and Prince Harry married in 2018, and they have two children together: Archie, who was born May 6, 2019, and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, born on June 4, 2021. Since stepping down as senior members of the royal family in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are completely financially independent from the royal family. The couple has settled in California and is pursuing charity work and business ventures.

Mike was very open about his issues with Meghan and her decision to cease contact with her father and the rest of her family — save for her mother, Doria Ragland, whom she keeps in contact with. A year before his death, Mike said he felt that Meghan’s father and himself were at high risk during the pandemic and wished Meghan would reach out before it was too late. Keep reading to learn more about Mike and his relationship with Meghan.

A source close to the Markle family spoke with The Sun about Meghan’s uncle. "Mike was a lovely, gentle, softly spoken old man. He was always happy to be asked about Meghan, but whenever he spoke to anyone he mainly wanted to talk about his late wife — he loved her so much," they shared. 

Despite being estranged, Mike did not speak badly of Meghan and only wished that she would make amends with her father. The source said, "He was quite well known in his community for being Meghan’s uncle, and he would always stop for a chat to say how proud he was of her even though he didn’t often agree with how she went about things.”

Meghan has a different perspective. In interviews with Oprah Winfrey and on “CBS This Morning,” Meghan alleged that her father worked with the paparazzi ahead of her wedding, going as far as staging photos for his own monetary gain.

"I said, 'I just need you to tell me and if you tell me the truth, we can help,' and (my father) wasn't able to do that," Meghan said. "And that, for me, has really resonated, especially now as a mother."

Mike, however, made it very clear he did not appreciate the way Meghan treated her family after marrying Harry, especially Meghan’s father. "His face often turned a bit dark whenever that was mentioned. I don't think they were ever in touch with him to his dying day,” the source told The Sun.

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Mike suffered from a heart condition along with Parkinson’s disease, so he may not have been able to attend anyway, but it was the thought that counted. The source added, "He wasn’t well enough to travel even back then, but it would have been nice for him to know he was loved and appreciated by the niece he helped so much when she was just starting out."

In 2020, Mike spoke with Express about Meghan and her decision not to reach out to her father and his family during the pandemic.

"Meghan famously said 'not many people have asked if I'm OK.’ She would do well in this time of a genuine crisis to ask her dad if he is OK,” he told the publication.

It seemed that Meghan’s uncle was worried about running out of time before seeing his niece reunite with her father. Mike added, "People of my age and Tom's are dying due to the virus. There's nothing wrong with being courteous. It's about time she should try to mend any differences she has with family before it is too late.”

Mike also said, "I think that she should be in touch with her dad. Tom should be speaking to his daughter and his newest grand(children)." Lilibet was born just weeks before Mike’s passing in June 2021. 

Mike hoped that now that Harry and Meghan are living in California again, the proximity to her father might rekindle their relationship. Mike said to Express, "Hopefully, the short distance between them will make Meghan think again, and the two will reunite. I know Tom wants that more than anything."

What do you think about Meghan’s estrangement from her family? Do you support her decision not to have her father or his family in her life? Let us know your opinion, and be sure to pass this story to your loved ones.