Meghan Markle's estranged father brands her Ellen interview as a "stupid stunt"

Meghan Markle's father has branded her surprise Ellen interview as nothing more than a "stupid stunt" and claims her appearance will have embarrassed the Royal Family.

An embittered Thomas Markle Sr, 77, said he winced as he watched his daughter during the 20-minute chat and is "hurt" he had to tune into a television show to receive updates on his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet.

"It's no way to behave. The whole thing was kind of embarrassing. It was certainly embarrassing for the Royal Family," Markle told the Sunday Mirror.

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"It's embarrassing for her as well. I suspect it embarrassed everyone in the UK, too."

"She's putting herself out there as a duchess, but I've never seen a duchess behave this way, doing stupid stunts."

Markle, who has famously struggled to maintain a relationship with his ex-royal daughter, again claimed Meghan failed to acknowledge his support while speaking about her humble acting beginnings.

He also contradicted the Duchess of Sussex's claims of having an old, beat-up car while driving to auditions in Los Angeles.

"I'm disappointed she didn't mention me. I hooked her up with a director on the General Hospital TV show and that got her a couple of lines on one of the shows which got her a union card," he said.

"I don't remember any time she had to crawl out of the back of it to get out, like she said."

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While speaking with her neighbour and good friend Ellen DeGeneres, Meghan discussed son Archie and baby Lilibet and the influence they had on her children's book The Bench.

Markle told the UK publication hearing about his two grandchildren — who he has not met — was bittersweet.

"Archie's a very handsome young boy and I look forward to seeing him in person. And also Lili, who I have also not seen," he added.

In a final message to his estranged daughter, Markle suggested Meghan and Prince Harry should visit the Royal Family at Christmas in what could be their "last chance" to see the Queen.

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"Harry should go, without a doubt. This might be the last chance he gets to see his grandmother. I really feel bad for her, they have treated her so poorly and been so rude. I have great respect for the Queen and the Royal Family," he said.

Markle's blistering indictment of his famous daughter comes as Meghan fights in court to uphold the court's decision in her privacy lawsuit against a British newspaper.

The 40-year-old sued Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Mail on Sunday, after it printed extracts from a private letter she wrote to her father Thomas Markle Sr in 2018.

The newspaper's lawyer argued Markle released parts of the letter in response to a People article he claimed "attacked" his character.