‘Meghan Markle's dad made up heart attack to avoid royal wedding’

Thomas Markle says he hasn't spoken to his daughter in two months

Meghan Markle's close friend has slammed the Duchess's dad, Thomas Markle, claiming his heart surgery was 'all made up' after his embarrassing staged photo shoot.

Thomas Markle pulled out of his daughter's wedding just days after it emerged he had been paid to pose for pictures of his shopping for a wedding outfit and looking at pictured of Meghan and Harry.

It was later revealed the 73-year-old had suffered a heart attack and was undergoing heart surgery.

Now, a source close to the Duchess of Sussex has branded his heart surgery as a 'story', fabricated as a way out of the wedding.

They said: "The whole story about Meghan's father undergoing heart surgery was made up.

"He had to come up with a good enough reason not to attend her wedding and avoid any further embarrassment after those staged photos went public.", reports the Mail Online.

Meghan Markle's dad Thomas vows he won't stop speaking to the media until Royals 'break their silence'

The source added people should 'feel sorry for Meghan' as opposed to her father.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain, Thomas, a former film lighting director, said he had checked into the Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, north of the Mexican border.

The hospital has since said 'no such name' was on their patient records.

Thomas Markle has also said he won't stop speaking to the media until the Royals break their silence.

He said he's unfazed by reports that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are growing 'frustrated' with his recent outspoken interviews about Meghan.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry field VERY cheeky question from royal fan with the best comeback

Thomas told TMZ he simply wants to make peace with his estranged daughter.

He said: "I was silent for a full year and the press beat me up every day saying I was a hermit hiding in Mexico, so I gave my story.

"Apparently that interview put the Royal Family in their silence mode ... so, I gave another interview to break the silence. All they have to do is speak to me.”

Thomas Markle also said that he is amused that he can force the Royal Family into a media blackout.

"Tomorrow [Wednesday] is my birthday, 74 years old, and I’m enjoying the fact that I can make the entire Royal Family not speak and maybe I can get a laugh out of the Duchess."

Mr. Markle has given numerous interviews in recent months, including a paid interview with the Sun in which he revealed his daughter hasn't returned his calls for over two months.

He also said that he thought that his the 36-year-old actress looked 'terrified' in her new life as a fully-fledged royal.

"I see it in her eyes," he said. "I see it in her face and I see it in her smile. I've seen her smile for years. I know her smile. I don't like the one I'm seeing now. This one isn't even a stage smile - this is a pained smile."