Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, once played a significant role in the Duchess of Sussex’s life, but their relationship has soured in recent years.

Meghan previously shared that her passion for film and theater stemmed from her father, who worked as a lighting director and director of photography. He often brought her to film sets during her childhood.

“Every day after school for 10 years, I was on the set of Married with Children, which is a really funny and perverse place for a little girl in a Catholic school uniform to grow up,” Meghan told Esquire.

“There were a lot of times my dad would say, ‘Meg, why don’t you go and help with the craft services room over there? This is just a little off-color for your 11-year-old eyes,’” she recalled, highlighting the close bond they shared during those years.

Despite her familiarity with the entertainment industry, Meghan was determined to avoid being labeled as the typical “L.A. girl dreaming of stardom.” She pursued higher education at Northwestern University, where she majored in communication. Later, she expanded her academic focus to include theater and international relations at the university’s esteemed Evanston campus.