Snubbed Thomas Markle reveals regret at not being invited to Archie’s christening

Meghan Markle’s estranged father has spoken of his desire to have been at Archie’s christening as he wished his grandson nothing but ‘health and happiness’.

Thomas Markle, 74, has never met his son-in-law Prince Harry and was not invited to today’s christening at Windsor Castle.

He said he would have enjoyed being at the celebration because he has been a member of the Anglican Church since childhood, describing it as the ‘Queen’s church’.

His former wife Doria Ragland, Meghan’s mother, was pictured in the official photograph released today as one of the select few guests invited to the ceremony.

Speaking from his home in Rosarito Beach, Mexico, the retired Hollywood lighting director told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I have been asked if I would have liked to have gone to Britain to see my new grandson being christened.

‘I was an altar boy at age 12, a confirmed member of the Queen’s church at age 14, and Archie is my new grandson, so of course I would have enjoyed being there for the blessing, wishing Archie and his parents health and happiness.’

Mr Markle missed last year’s Royal Wedding after suffering two heart attacks. He also fell out with his daughter and Harry when he admitted posing for paparazzi pictures in a misguided attempt to change his ‘schlubby’ image.

Mr Markle claimed he only allowed the photographs to be taken because he was left unable to fend for himself against an onslaught of global media attention.

Since then, he has repeatedly apologised for the pictures but the hoped-for rapprochement with his daughter has failed to materialise. Mr Markle has continued to attempt to heal the rift but without success, and has criticised the couple for refusing to speak to him or return his telephone calls.

Mr Markle grew up in working- class Newport, Pennsylvania, where he attended the Episcopal Church of the Nativity.

Meghan was not christened as a child because her yoga-teaching mother Doria did not share Mr Markle’s Anglican beliefs.

The pair married in 1979 at the Self-Realization Fellowship Temple on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, which is dedicated to the teachings of Indian yogi and guru Paramahansa Yogananda. He encouraged followers to use breathing and meditation as a ‘path to enlightenment’.

The couple split when Meghan was just two years old.

Before her wedding in May last year, Meghan was baptised and confirmed into the Church of England by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who also conducted today’s service.

Mr Markle’s statements came as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said they ‘feel fortunate’ to have enjoyed their son’s christening with his godparents who have not yet been revealed.

Proud parents Harry and Meghan finally gave a glimpse into two-month-old Archie’s big day today, releasing pictures on social media hours after the top secret ceremony took place in Windsor as they wanted to ‘share the joy’ of the special occasion.

The royal couple shared two snaps from the event with their near 9 million followers, posting that they felt ‘so happy to share the joy of this day with members of the public’ and thanking supporters for their kindness.

It comes after a backlash over their insistence that the ceremony would remain private and the identities of Archie’s godparents would not be revealed.

A few hours after the ceremony in Windsor, Meghan, 37, and Prince Harry, 34, released an official image in which they posed alongside the Duchess of Cornwall, The Prince of Wales, Doria Ragland, Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, The Duke of Cambridge and The Duchess of Cambridge in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.

In a touching tribute to Harry’s mother, Princess Diana’s sisters Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale were prominent in the official picture.

Just 25 guests were present at the baptism today, which saw Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor christened in a private chapel at Windsor Castle, but the couple only released photographs celebrating with their immediate family. Archie is seventh in line to the throne and not an HRH. 

As well as including Diana’s sisters in the snap, the proud parents also paid tribute to Archie’s grandmother by sitting on the same green chair with gold detailing that Diana and the Queen sat on for Harry’s official christening photographs.  

The royal couple have faced growing backlash surrounding the event, as they insisted it be kept private, despite recently billing the public £2.4million to renovate Frogmore cottage. 

Alongside the two pictures from the event, which only featured close family members, they wrote: ‘This morning, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was christened in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle at an intimate service officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

‘The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are so happy to share the joy of this day with members of the public who have been incredibly supportive since the birth of their son. They thank you for your kindness in welcoming their first born and celebrating this special moment.

‘Their Royal Highnesses feel fortunate to have enjoyed this day with family and the godparents of Archie. 

The post shared on the Sussexroyal account went on: ‘Their son, Archie, was baptised wearing the handmade replica of the royal christening gown which has been worn by royal infants for the last 11 years. 

‘The original Royal Christening Robe, made of fine Honiton lace lined with white satin, was commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1841 and first worn by her eldest daughter.

‘It was subsequently worn for generations of Royal christenings, including The Queen, her children and her grandchildren until 2004, when The Queen commissioned this handmade replica, in order for the fragile historic outfit to be preserved, and for the tradition to continue.’ 

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson also said: ‘The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to share the happiness of this day, and would like to thank everyone around the world for their ongoing support. They feel so fortunate to have enjoyed this special moment with family and Archie’s godparents.’  

Godparents of royal babies are traditionally announced beforehand – often on the morning of the christening – and conventionally elderly or foreign relatives were selected.

In one historic photo, Baby Archie, Meghan’s mum and Diana’s sisters 

Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, seventh in line to the Throne, was – finally – presented to the world at his christening yesterday.

Exactly two months after he was born, he was pictured sitting on the lap of his mother, the Duchess of Sussex, as she nestled into the shoulder of his father, the Duke of Sussex.

The image, shot against the opulence of Windsor Castle’s Green Drawing Room, was one of warmth and family joy.

Archie will not be taking an HRH title at the request of his parents but he did, however, enjoy all the trappings of a Royal christening.

He was wearing the cascading ivory Honiton lace and satin gown used for all Royal babies’ baptisms since the reign of Queen Victoria. The one Archie wore is a 2008 copy of the 1841 original, and was handmade by the Queen’s dresser Angela Kelly.

The ceremony was performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, using the silver gilt Lily Font. Commissioned in 1840 by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert for the birth of their first child, it is part of the Crown Jewels and had been brought from the Tower of London for the occasion.

The water which filled the font was taken from the River Jordan. The brief service took place in the Queen’s own private chapel in the Upper Ward of Windsor Chapel.

Since the arrival of Archie, the country has had only tantalising glimpses of his feet and part of his face. But yesterday afternoon, his proud parents uploaded two photos to mark his baptism to their Instagram account.

In the main picture, Archie is flanked by three of his proud grandparents, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland. At the centre of the image the world can, for the first time, see Archie’s face clearly and discover how much he resembles his father at the same age.

Archie’s uncle and aunt, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, are in the forefront of the shot with the Duchess wearing a scene-stealing, coral-coloured Stella McCartney dress. Its demure pussy cat bow does little to divert attention from her above-the-knee skirt and the ruby-red stiletto heels which match her fashionable satin headband.

The Duchess of Sussex chose bespoke Dior for the day, reaching for white, the statement colour she favours. 

The final two members of the formal Green Room line-up are there in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales: they are her sisters, Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale, who Harry sees as equal keepers of his mother’s memory. 

The second christening photograph released by Meghan and Harry is the kind of arty, black-and-white shot on which they have built their Instagram empire of 8.8 million followers.

Taken in the Rose Garden at Windsor moments after the religious ceremony, it is the work of Chris Allerton, the former soldier who was also the couple’s wedding photographer. The release of both pictures marks a softening of the stance of the Duke and Duchess, who had hoped to keep details of the day private. They have chosen not to release the names of Archie’s godparents.

They made their way with their son from Frogmore Cottage, their home in the grounds of the Queen’s Windsor estate, shortly before noon for the low-key ceremony.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall had arrived on helicopter of the Queen’s Flight at 10am, while the Cambridges left Kensington Palace and drove themselves, William at the wheel, and in through the back gates of the castle. The Queen had wished to attend but was headed to a prior engagement at Sandringham after a trip to Scotland, where she had been celebrating Holyrood Week.

The Royals were joined by guests from the couple’s close circle of friends, including Harry and William’s former nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke, Meghan’s old university friend Genevieve Hills, and the Duchess’s great confidante, the fashion designer Misha Nonoo. 

The choir of St George’s Chapel who sang at Harry and Meghan’s wedding, also sang at Archie’s christening, and then the party, believed to number around 25, celebrated with tea and a slice of the couple’s wedding cake – made by fashionable East London baker Claire Ptak – which had been frozen and saved for the occasion.