Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex’s words have been labelled “stupid” by Thomas Markle, who claims he “contradicts himself so much”

The 76-year-old has never seen Prince Harry, his son-in-law, and is alienated from his daughter Meghan Markle, despite making public pleas for her to contact him.

In the interview, which comes three months after Harry and Meghan’s own explosive encounter with Oprah Winfrey, Thomas accuses Harry of being “cold” toward his own father, Prince Charles.

Oprah duped Harry into saying “things you just shouldn’t be saying on television,” according to Thomas Markle.

Mr Markle told Australian TV show 60 minutes: “I have things to say. Oprah Winfrey, for one, I think is playing Harry and Meghan.

“I think she is using them to build her network and build her new shows and I think she’s taken advantage of a very weakened man and has got him to say things that you just shouldn’t be saying on television.”

“She will disagree of course, and she may even sue me, I don’t care. But the bottom line is she is working Harry.”

In another part of his explosive interview, Thomas expressed his disappointment at learning of his new baby granddaughter Lilibet’s birth after Meghan and Harry released their public announcement.

“I found out (Lilbet’s birth) after the face and I have to deal with that and that’s okay.”

“There’s always disappointment here.”

‘Lili is perfect and the other thing that makes me happy is that there is a lot more Markle blood in the Royal Family.”

He went on: “All I can say is that I hope eventually I get to see these grandchildren of mine. I’m a pretty good grandpa.”

“August 4, 40 years ago, Megan was born by c-section and I was the first one to hold her in my arms. I fell in love with her and I’ve been that way ever since. I will be very disappointed if I don’t get to hold my granddaughter.”

Asked if it hurts for him to be separated from Meghan, Harry and their two children, Thomas said: “Of course it hurts, there are axe murderers in prison and their family comes to see them.”

“I’m not an axe murder. I made one dumb mistake and I’ve been punished for it. This show they’ve been on, they talk about compassion, there’s no compassion for me, no compassion for my family, and no compassion for the world.”

Thomas then likened himself to Harry’s father, Prince Charles, stating that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had ‘ghosted’ them.

“I think we would get on quite well [if we went for a drink together] and I think it’s unfortunate what’s happened to him as well. He seems like a likeable guy and I appreciate the fact that he walked my daughter down the aisle. I could certainly not have asked for a better replacement, although I would have liked to do it myself,” Thomas said.

“I see them both ghosting their families completely and now they are alone in a huge house where they can probably accommodate 20 people in but it’s just the four of them. I don’t think they are going to have relatives over for a barbecue next week or next month. I don’t know why.”

“Do you still love your daughter?” asked Tom.

“Of course I do. I love my other children, I love my other daughter and I love my son,” said Thomas.

“Do you think she still loves you?”

“I have no idea,” Thomas explained. “Like I said, I have not spoken to her until two days before they got married when I was lying in a hospital bed, that’s the last conversation we had. I’ve not spoken to them since.”

When media allegations surfaced revealing Thomas had partnered with a paparazzi firm to stage images of himself for pay in the run-up to the Royal wedding, Thomas lied to Harry over the phone, and they’ve never met.

“I’ve apologised a hundred times for it,” Thomas continued.

“I’m not bitter, I’m confused. I just don’t have the answer. I want an answer. If I had done something terribly wrong that would be fine but I haven’t. I just want an answer.

“I don’t know if anybody that’s that cold to do this and now Meghan’s doing it to me and Harry’s doing it to his father. That’s a cold thing to do and it’s even more cold to do it to the queen, who is in her nineties. That’s a cold thing to do.”

He added: “If I am [to blame] tell me how and I will fix it if try to fix it, but I don’t know how.”

Pictures of Meghan and his other children, Samantha Markle and Thomas Jr., were hung on the walls as the cameras panned throughout his home.

“Weekends were very special [when Meghan was young]. We’d take her to dance classes. She wanted to be a dancer,” he reminisced.

Showing a picture of newborn Meghan laying on his chest, Thomas said wistfully: “I would like to have that experience with my new granddaughter.”

Asked what he would say to the duchess if she was watching, he replied: “I do love you. I wish we could sit down and talk about it. I’m not an ogre. I’d love to talk to her.”

But he said he wouldn’t drive down to California, where Meghan and Harry are currently residing, since it would make him a stalker.

“It’s a peaceful place [where he lives]. I’d like Meghan and Harry to come here… I would never do that [knock on their door]. That makes me a stalker. Im not a stalker. She knows where I live. He knows where I live. Harry is invited to come down any time he wants, alone or with Meghan, and she’s invited to come by herself or with Harry. I would love that. Father’s Day is coming up. That really hurts when Father’s Day comes up.”

“I’m not the tearful type. I keep everything in here. I don’t let it out but I’m certainly hurt by a lot of it.”

And he shared his fears that he’ll die before he’ll ever get to meet his grandchildren, telling Tom: “On the 18th I will be 77 years old. Most of the Markle men don’t make it past 80 so there’s a good chance I may never see my grandchildren.”

“I’m not looking for pity. I’m just saying that’s a reality.”