Thomas Markle says daughter Meghan wasn't subjected to racism and that Harry should 'man up'

Thomas Markle has said his daughter Meghan has not been subjected to racism in Britain.

In an interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Monday, Mr Markle criticised her and Prince Harry for deciding to break from the Royal Family.

Asked by presenters Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid about alleged racist coverage of Ms Markle, her father replied: “I’m having trouble buying that.

“There’s never been a problem in terms of race with Meghan at her school or at any place and I haven’t noticed it in England at all.

“I think England is even far more liberal than the United States when it comes to races.

“So I don’t think that she is being bullied in any way or any shape because of racism.”

In a controversial move, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have decided to step back from royal duties and divide their time between the UK and Canada.

In a TV interview last week, Mr Markle said Harry and Meghan won’t see him again “until he’s lowered into the ground”.

Mr Markle has said he is willing to testify against his daughter in her legal action against three newspapers.

In the interview, Ms Markle’s estranged father told Prince Harry to “man up” and meet him in an effort to repair his relationship with his daughter.

He said he is "really disappointed" he has not seen his grandson Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, adding: "And I really miss my daughter."

He said his message to Harry is: "Man up and fly down to see me. And we'll talk."

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Asked what he would say to Meghan, he told the programme: "I'd say: 'I love you', and: 'Let's sit down and work this out.' She was the closest thing to me for years and years and years, until she went off to college and even then.

"This is ridiculous. We should get together.”

Asked what he would say to people who are critical of him doing TV interviews, Mr Markle said: "I would tell them to try being in my position for a while and see what it's like – have a family member ghost you and not speak to you, and see how you feel.

"It's something that stays with you 24/7 every day, and it never goes away.

"It's always on your mind. You wake up with it. You go to sleep with it. It's very hard to deal with."

Asked about how he is trying to contact his daughter, he said: "For me, there is no other way to reach them. I pretty much will give an interview and wait for 30 days for some kind of answer back.

"If I don't get one back then I'll try another interview."

Last week, Mr Markle admitted to lying to Harry about a series of staged photos in the run-up to the couple’s wedding in 2018.

Mr Markle is the main witness for Associated Newspapers, owner of the Mail on Sunday and MailOnline, in its response to Meghan's legal action over an article featuring parts of a handwritten letter to her father.

The duchess's defence is seeking damages from the publisher for alleged misuse of private information, copyright infringement and breach of the Data Protection Act.

Asked about the possibility of meeting Meghan and Harry at court as part of the legal action, Mr Markle told Good Morning Britain: "If it comes to meeting them in a courtroom, that's great. At least I'd finally get to see them."

He went on to say he did not want a "battle".

Speaking about the couple's decision to step back as senior members of the Royal Family, Mr Markle said it is "never going to work", adding: "I think they've hurt the Queen. I think they've hurt the royals."

He said: "I'm a little embarrassed for them, and feeling very sorry for the Queen."