Meghan Markle and her estranged father Thomas can make Hollywood history together if she wins a Daytime Emmy. They would become only the second father and daughter duo in more than half-a-century to have both won the coveted TV industry award.
But what could become a remarkable family triumph – should the Duchess of Sussex manage to land her first major professional trophy – will also be “incredibly bittersweet” for Mr Markle, a close friend told the Sunday Express.
“Like any dad, he’s enormously proud that Meghan is following in his footsteps,” the friend added. “Despite the deep divide between them, he dearly wants her to succeed and would love to see her win.”
The duchess is a first time nominee among five in the Outstanding Lifestyle Series category for her ill-fated Netflix show With Love, Meghan, which was cancelled after just two seasons earlier this year.
She is expected to attend the October 30 ceremony – at LA’s landmark Hollywood Palladium Theatre – with husband Prince Harry and her father’s friend revealed: “Invitations have already gone out to nominees and their guests and, as he expected, Thomas wasn’t among them.
“He’s agonised about sending Meghan a message congratulating her on her nomination. But in end, he didn’t because I don’t think he wanted to set himself up for the likelihood that she would simply ghost him again.”
Retired Hollywood lighting director Mr Markle, 81, won two Daytime Emmys, in 1982 and 2011, for his technical expertise on long-running daytime medical drama General Hospital.
