For the first time since the birth of his new granddaughter, Lilibet, Thomas Markle has chastised the ‘cold’ Sussexes for refusing to see him despite the fact that he lives just 70 miles away from their swanky £11 million mansion in Santa Barbara, saying that even ‘axe murderers’ have their families visit them.

Although Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in 2018, Thomas has yet to meet his new son-in-law or grandson Archie.

‘Of course it hurts,’ he said in a shocking 60 Minutes interview. ‘There are axe murderers in prison, and their family come 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.

‘If I had done something terribly wrong, that would be fine, but I haven’t.’

Thomas now believes that, due to his failing health, he may never meet Archie, two, or infant Lilibet, who was born on June 4.

‘I’ll be very disappointed that I don’t get to hold my granddaughter,’ 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. I’m not looking for pity. I’m just saying that’s a reality.

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

Oprah Winfrey, who did the Sussexes’ explosive CBS interview in March, was also criticized by Thomas, who said that she “used” Meghan and Harry to promote her TV projects.

‘I have things to say. Oprah Winfrey, for one, I think is playing Harry and Meghan,’ he said.

‘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.’

When Thomas was unable to attend Meghan’s wedding in May 2018, he stated he appreciated Prince Charles walking her down the aisle because he was unable to attend due to a heart attack.

Indeed, he stated that he would welcome the opportunity to catch up with Prince Charles over a beer and feels the two have many interests, including being ‘ghosted’ by their own children.

He explained: “I think we would get on quite well 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.

“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.”