'Meghan Markle's latest bid to make money is barely believable - her poor dad'
Meghan Markle's latest bid to rake in money is barely believable - she cannot be serious
Meghan's Father's Day pitch sounds sweet on the surface but it hits a raw nerve that makes the silence around her own dad feel unbearable.
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Add us as preferred source Comments OPINION By Chris Riches 05:30, Sat, Jun 20, 2026 
Ahead of Father's Day, Meghan Markle urged all children to spoil their dad this weekend - you have to wonder if she's looked in a mirror lately. And the fact her message suggested a Father's Day breakfast, flogging her 'As Ever' range of jams, teas and flower sprinkles seems a low blow - considering she's not spoken to her own poor dad for years.
Meghan’s message, titled “Say thanks to Dad,” read: "Whether you need a simple way to say ‘thank you’ to Dad or simply want to create a comforting morning moment — breakfast in bed is the perfect treat." The Duchess of Sussex, 44, has been estranged from 81-year-old Thomas Markle since she married into the Royal Family in 2018. In fact Prince Harry has never met the former Hollywood lighting director face to face.
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Poor Thomas, who has suffered a range of health problems including a leg amputation due to a blood clot, has not even met his grandchildren Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie - they have been withheld from him.
Two heart attacks forced him to miss her wedding at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, but it appears Meghan has not forgiven him for not being there to walk her down the aisle.
Thomas is now enjoying life with someone who does appear to care for him - mother-of-two Rio Canedo, 46, who he met when having treatment in hospital after relocating to the Philippines in 2024 for a quieter life.
He's currently back in the States continuing his recovery while Rio remains thousands of miles away but they are in constant contact.
Yet before he moved abroad Meghan - who lives in Montecito, California - was a four-hour drive from her dad's home in Rosarito, Mexico. She could have driven down for the day any day.
Some have claimed that she does not trust her father not to tell the media if they did all meet up as she has accused him in the past of colluding with US showbiz reporters and paparazzi photographers.
How ironic, as I'm sure King Charles, Prince William and Catherine all feel exactly the same way about meeting Meghan and Harry if they fly over to the UK.
To be fair to Thomas, his media interviews tend to focus on one line - asking for his daughter to speak to him or come to his hospital bedside.
Also Thomas has never written a book about Meghan or Harry. The Sussexes cannot say the same about Harry's family.
Harry's autobiography, 'Spare,' and their joint TV interviews have lifted the lid on private conversations with Charles, Catherine and William.
Meghan is not on a moral high ground with her father - quite the opposite.
A few weeks ago Meghan sent a £300 free hamper to a social media fan who has been heavily criticised for repeatedly trolling the Royal Family - many claimed it appeared she was rewarding him for his online abuse.
So when she urges her customers and fans on social media to treat their dads this Father's Day, maybe pinging her own father Thomas a free As Ever hamper might be an ice-breaker to reestablishing their shattered relationship.
I recently lost my father. Genuinely Meghan, life is too short. Whatever betrayal you blame your father for - perhaps Father's Day is the perfect time to forgive and forget.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
