Meghan Markle, Dad Thomas' Relationship Was 'Complicated,' Duchess' Childhood Boyfriend Claims

Meghan Markle's childhood boyfriend got candid about her relationship with her dad, Thomas Markle Sr.

The Duchess of Sussex's old flame, Joshua Silverstein, spoke about how Markle and her father were years ago when he was still dating the former "Suits" star. According to Markle's ex-boyfriend, he witnessed how the father and daughter grew apart and he attributed it to her parents' divorce.

"I knew her dad growing up as kids," he told Us Weekly Monday. "I didn’t see him often … but I did know that Meghan’s relationship with her dad was complicated and I understood that as most teenager-to-parent relationships are."

Silverstein had a closer connection to Markle's mom, Doria Ragland, who split from her Thomas in 1987. He recalled the "challenging" dynamic between Markle and her dad amid her parents' divorce.

"Being there when Meghan’s parents were divorced at that time … it’s hard raising your kids without the secondary parent," Markle's ex-boyfriend added. "It’s all challenging. I don’t think there was anything specifically surprising to find out at that time because there were a lot of people that I knew [who] had challenging relationships with their parents. But I did know about it."

Silverstein made it clear that he couldn't disclose the specifics of what Markle went through with her dad. However, he made it clear that he had "very cordial" interactions with the lighting director. But he believed, the father and daughter's relationship "might have been strained" as the result of the divorce and he was sad to watch them grow more distant from each other.

"I think at the end of the day, we’re all human beings and we all have to create boundaries with people that we may not want to create boundaries with … but at the end of the day, you have to do what’s best for you and your family," the Braid Theater performer said. "If that means creating a boundary with your parents, sometimes that’s what you have to do."

Meanwhile, Kate Middleton's uncle Gary reacted to Markle's revelation that the Duchess of Cambridge made her cry. Gary said he didn't believe Markle because his niece doesn't have a mean bone in her body. He insisted that it was the Duchess of Sussex who had a hissy fit. Another reason he didn't believe Prince Harry's wife was because of her former profession. For him, Markle would always be "an actress [who] knows how to manipulate her audience."