The Duchess of Sussex’s estranged father, Thomas Markle has said he hopes to see his grandchildren one day, it has been reported.

Meghan and Harry announced at the weekend that they are expecting their second child, after the duchess suffered a miscarriage last year.

Mr Markle has been estranged from his daughter for a number of years and is believed to have last met Meghan sometime before her wedding in May 2018.

The Sun newspaper reported the duchess’s father as saying: “I wish Meghan and Harry a successful and healthy birth. And I hope some day I get to see my grandchildren.”

He added: “They’re all royal grandchildren.”

In the run-up to Harry and Meghan’s wedding, Mr Markle became embroiled in controversy after allegedly staging paparazzi photographs of himself, and later dropped out, reportedly saying he did not want to “embarrass the royal family” or his daughter.

The Sussexes now live in California with their young son Archie after stepping down as working royals, while Mr Markle lives in a Mexican coastal town.

Last week, Meghan won her High Court privacy claim against the Mail On Sunday over the publication of a “personal and private” handwritten letter to her estranged father.

Mr Markle had said he was prepared to give evidence against his daughter.

He told the Sun: “I don’t know how you can judge a case without getting testimony from witnesses. Witnesses that want to speak. I’m not the only one who wants to speak.”