Meghan Markle's estranged father Thomas Markle has announced his intention to petition Californian courts in the "very near future" for the right to see his two grandchildren. The Duchess's father has not met two-year-old Archie Harrison or baby Lilibet Diana since they were born, after falling out with his daughter in the lead-up to her royal wedding with Prince Harry.

       Thomas Markle gave Fox News an exclusive interview where he discussed his plans for legal action and his thoughts on Prince Harry's upcoming memoir.

       He said: "We shouldn't be punishing [Lili] for Meghan and Harry's bad behaviour. Archie and Lili are small children.

       "They're not politics. They're not pawns. They're not part of the game.

       "And they're also royal and entitled to the same rights as any other royal.

       "Archie and Lili are just sweet little kids – let’s keep it to that. I will be petitioning the Californian courts for the right to see my grandchildren in the very near future."

       READ MORE: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 'don't care about UK' as Duke's book snubbed by Britons

       Speaking from his home in Rosarito, Mexico, he gave his thoughts on Prince Harry's memoir, saying: "Harry doesn't have too much more to tell. After three sessions with the psychiatrists and Oprah Winfrey, I don't know what more is there to tell."

       Thomas Markle has publicly criticised the Sussexes on a number of occasions.

       Since becoming estranged from his daughter in 2018, he has not met either of his grandchildren and has never met his son-in-law, Prince Harry.

       During another exclusive interview with 60 Minutes Australia in June, he said, "On July 18, I'll be 77 years old. Most of the Markle men don't make it much past 80. I might never see my grandchildren."

       "All I can say is that I hope eventually I get to see these grandchildren of mine. I'm a pretty good grandpa."

       He revealed that he had apologised to Meghan "one hundred times" and said "they talk about compassion, there's no compassion for me, no compassion for my family, and no compassion for the world."

       Meghan Markle cut ties with her father in the weeks leading up the her wedding with Prince Harry.

       It was revealed that the 77-year-old former lighting director had received payment for a number of staged paparazzi photographs.

       The images included him at a tuxedo-fitting and another of him researching the history of Britian in an internet cafe.

       DON'T MISS

       Royal Family LIVE: Palace breaks silence as Prince Harry 'goes rogue' with memoir

       Prince Harry and Meghan's Spotify deal enraged music artists: 'Unethical kick in teeth'

       Kate Middleton's latest venture 'vital to survival' of Royals - 'Carries message'

       After several days of changing his plans to attend the wedding, it was announced that Thomas Markle would no longer be present at the service and was undergoing heart surgery in hospital.

       Prince Charles stepped in to walk his future daughter-in-law down the aisle.

       Since then, Thomas Markle has conducted a number of interviews where he has attacked the couple for their handling of Megxit and made public appeals to be allowed visitation access to his grandchildren.

       Meghan Markle is also estranged to other members of her father's family, including her half-siblings Samantha and Thomas Markle Jr.

       However, she enjoys a close relationship with her mother Doria Ragland, who lives near the Sussexes and regularly helps look after their young children.