Thomas Markle Jr has issued a public apology to his sister Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, after criticising her in the media for years.
The 55-year-old window fitter from Oregon said he’d ‘made some horrible mistakes’ after being thrust into the spotlight when Meghan started dating Prince Harry.
He also told New Idea he hopes Meghan is watching him on Australian reality show Big Brother VIP, adding: ‘That’s why I’m doing this, so she can see the real me.’
Saying sorry: Thomas Markle Jr (pictured) has issued a public apology to his sister Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, after criticising her in the media for years
‘I want everybody watching to take away this side of me, the real me. I am lovable, nice, I’ll give you the shirt off my back, I’m funny,’ he said.
Despite having previously warned Prince Harry his sister would ‘ruin your life’, Thomas said there was no animosity on his side.
He insisted that growing up with Meghan had been ‘a great experience’ and that they were ‘very close’ and would spend ‘lots of quality time’ together.
Reaching out: The 55-year-old window fitter from Oregon said he’d ‘made some horrible mistakes’ after being thrust into the spotlight when Meghan started dating Prince Harry. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are pictured in New York City on September 23
Thomas said their relationship soured when Meghan started dating Harry and he was ‘thrown to the wolves’ with ‘no experience’ of handling the press.
‘I was being backed into a corner, into a wall. I made some horrible mistakes and still regret them to this day,’ he confessed.
Thomas insisted he loves his sister and would ‘do anything’ to meet his nephew Archie, two, and niece Lilibet, four months.
Estranged: Thomas said their relationship soured when he was ‘thrown to the wolves’ with ‘no experience’ of handling the press. He would now ‘do anything’ to meet his nephew Archie, two, and niece Lilibet, four months. Pictured: Harry and Meghan with son Archie in September 2019
‘I don’t need a photo-op to go see my sister, and I don’t want a story behind it,’ he explained.
‘I don’t want anything, I would just love to go over to their home and knock on the door, give her a big hug and kiss, and say I missed the hell out of her and apologise right to her face…
‘Maybe one day that will happen. I’d do anything to see Archie and Lilibet.’
Having his say: In a candid conversation with his housemates during Monday’s season premiere of Big Brother VIP, Thomas claimed Meghan changed after finding fame
In a candid conversation with his housemates during Monday’s season premiere of Big Brother VIP, Thomas claimed Meghan changed after finding fame.
‘What happened to her, nobody can figure it out. Money changed her I guess. Money and fame just went to her head really bad,’ he said.
Thomas went on to say that Meghan ‘walked all over’ her first husband, film producer Trevor Engelson, who had ‘adored’ her.
Peace offering: Despite having previously warned Prince Harry his sister would ‘ruin your life’, Thomas said there was no animosity on his side. Pictured: the Sussexes in NYC in September
The couple married in 2011, and Thomas said that Meghan had ‘dumped him’ two years later before sending ‘the ring back in the mail’.
‘Is that cold or what? But Harry’s next, Harry’s on the chopping block next,’ he continued.
‘The only difference between now and then is all the photos prior to that he had a smile on his face, all the ones after he doesn’t.’
Remorse: ‘I would just love to go over to their home and knock on the door, give her a big hug and kiss, and say I missed the hell out of her and apologise right to her face…’ he said