Meghan Markle's public family drama has a new character, Frederick Markle, the Duchess of Sussex's uncle, and brother of her father Thomas Markle. On Thursday, The Daily Mail released a newly unearthed photo of Frederick, who it said is a self-proclaimed Catholic bishop, dressed in an extravagant golden religious costume. The photo was believed to have been taken in the early 1980s, during a time when Frederick's Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church had at least 40 members. Last year, The Mail revealed that Frederick is head of a Catholic church at the edge of Sanford, Florida. Although the establishment used to have parishioners, they have now all reportedly left, and the chapel is no longer publicly listed. But Frederick still prefers to be referred to as Bishop Dismas F. Markle According to The Mail, neighbours have said that Frederick seldom leaves his house apart from visits to church and fast food restaurants. He reportedly also has an estranged wife, Theresa, and son, David, who now lives in Pennsylvania with his own family. Friends of Frederick claim that the former-bishop barely ever mentions Meghan's family or the fact that they are related. The last time the two met face-to-face was when Meghan was just six years old. Although Frederick appears to be unwilling to get involved with the press, Meghan's father Thomas has often given interviews to the tabloid media. Earlier this month, the Duchess of Sussex's father Thomas Markle told reporters that he once dramatically hung up on Prince Harry during a heated phone call about the press. Speaking to Mail on Sunday, Thomas admitted he lied to his daughter and Prince Harry over the phone after they asked him whether he had staged a series of photos for the paparazzi. "If you had listened to me this would never have happened," Markle recalls the prince saying over the phone. He responded: "Maybe it would be better for you guys if I was dead... then you could pretend to be sad." "Then I hung up," Thomas said. In another interview with TMZ Thomas explained his volatile relationship with the media. "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," he said. "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."<doc-sep>Get our daily royal round-up direct to your inbox Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Meghgan Markle’s uncle has spoken of his deep hurt over his royal wedding “snub” and said he would have happily walked her down the aisle. Former US diplomat Michael Markle insisted that despite his worsening health, he would have flown over from his home in Palm Bay, Florida. Meghan’s dad Thomas, 74, had to pull out of the wedding at short notice following a heart attack. Older brother Michael suffers from Parkinson’s disease but told the Sunday Mirror that wouldn’t have stopped him doing the honours as his niece married Prince Harry at Windsor Castle in May. Michael told how he had always supported Meghan and “done more for her” over the years than anyone else. (Image: PA) He admitted that Parkinson’s “is getting me now”. But asked if he had the strength to be by Meghan’s side, he proudly added: “Sure, I could have, if it was co-ordinated. Yes, I would have done it.” Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland was the only member of the bride’s family to attend the wedding. And Michael, 78, said he was surprised he didn’t make the guest list for the ceremony at St George’s Chapel. Speaking from his modest trailer park home, Michael wondered whether former actress Meghan, 37, may have been instructed not to make any exceptions in terms of which family members should get an invitation. He said: “I thought I would. But anyhow, I didn’t hear from her. “And I don’t know how much the Royal Family had influence on her or not. They didn’t accept anyone else so they couldn’t make an exception for me.” Michael was speaking after a barrage of insults and interviews directed at the royals by other members of his family. (Image: PA) Meghan’s dad has revealed intimate details of conversations with Prince Harry, 33, and even confessed how he lied to the Duke of Sussex about faking pictures with a British paparazzi. The photographs showed Thomas looking at Meghan and Harry’s engagement pictures on an internet cafe computer – and him apparently being measured for a wedding suit at a tailors. It turned out they were all staged. Now Thomas feels he has been dumped by his daughter. For years he worked long hours as a Hollywood lighting technician to help Meghan through private school and realise her dream of becoming an actress. With Meghan’s half-sister Samantha boasting of an upcoming salacious biography titled In The Shadows Of The Duchess, Michael insists he is the only member of the Markle family who has shown any loyalty. (Image: ITV) He revealed how his connections helped secure Meghan a prestigious internship at the American embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, when she was 20. Michael said: “I’ve done more for her than the others. I’ve probably done more for her than most. I personally talked to the ambassador in Argentina for her.” Controversy over the wedding arrangements has haunted Harry and Meghan since the date was first set. The former Suits star told her father there was “no room” for him to make a speech – even when he said he wished to pay tribute to the couple at the reception. Other Markle relatives weighed in with their tuppence worth, causing huge embarrassment before and after the big day. And amid the fake pics furore, Thomas pulled out of the ceremony suffering heart problems with just days to go. (Image: TIM STEWART NEWS LIMITED) The whole, sorry saga has left Meghan even more reliant on mum Doria, 61, who has been her rock throughout. Michael has previously told how he thought his niece’s attitude towards her family was “uncalled for”. He said before the wedding: “I don’t understand why she has been so ­indifferent towards me. It’s uncalled for. I helped her out and I didn’t ask for anything in return.” Despite the disappointment at missing out on the big day, a neighbour at the trailer park retirement village told how Michael was delighed about the wedding. After moving in to his £78,000 home he told everyone about his niece. (Image: Coleman-Rayner) The source said: “He’s very proud of Meghan. When he moved in he asked everyone if they knew who she was and that she was marrying Prince Harry.” Meghan is expected to move her mum from the US to London as she embarks on the next stage of her marriage. She is said to want children as soon as possible after she and Harry return from their first major tour in October. The couple will spend a fortnight in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand. In Sydney they will launch the fourth Invictus Games, the hugely successful sporting event which former soldier Harry founded for injured servicemen and women. (Image: Getty Images Europe) A royal insider said: “The trip is likely to be a welcome distraction for everyone, but especially for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. “Royal aides have been increasingly under pressure to find a way out of this crisis as the Markle family show no signs of keeping quiet. “So far Meghan and Harry have decided to stay quiet but something will have to give sooner rather than later.” Earlier this month it was revealed how royal advisers have held a series of crisis summits on how to stop Thomas Markle from heaping further distress on his daughter. At least three meetings have taken place between Meghan and Harry’s senior team and other royal advisers to find a solution. Three options have been laid out to Meghan to try to resolve the public breakdown in relations with her dad. Our source said: “It’s an increasingly desperate situation and now it’s come down to three options being on the table. “Firstly, Meghan could contact her father straight away and appeal to him directly to stop hurting her. (Image: Enterprise News and Pictures) “Secondly, there is a possibility an intermediary could meet with him and appeal to him to stop making such hurtful statements. “The final option would be for Meghan to cut him off completely in the hope that he will eventually stop, but the ­situation is so precarious no one knows when that would be.” Royal aides are believed to be considering getting involved but Meghan “must have the final say in dealing with her own family”. The source added: “It’s been such a tumultuous time for Meghan and Harry during the first few months of their marriage, one wonders if the saga will ever end.” A Kensington Palace spokesperson declined to comment.<doc-sep>
A new photo of Frederick Markle, uncle to Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, has emerged in the British press showing the secretive, little-discussed brother of the duchess's father decked out in head-to-toe, golden religious regalia — from his days as a "bishop" in an obscure religious sect known as the Eastern Orthodox Church of America. The photo appeared in Britain's Daily Mail tabloid on Thursday. Frederick Markle prefers to be known as "Bishop Dismas F. Markle," according to another British tabloid, The Sun. "The photo is believed to have been taken in the early 1980s when his Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church had at least 40 members," the Mail reported. "But as Meghan and her new husband were reportedly gifted the stately Adelaide Lodge at Windsor by the Queen, adding to their impressive property portfolio that also includes Nottingham Cottage at Kensington plus a holiday home in the Cotswolds, Bishop Markle was photographed visiting his squalid home in Sanford, Florida." While the media, including the Inquisitr, has focused attention on Meghan Markle's often strained relationship with her father, Thomas Markle — a former Hollywood lighting director — her uncle Bishop Dismas has largely escaped media scrutiny due to his highly private nature, and he is often described as "reclusive" by the British press. Getty Images | Jeff J. Mitchell The British royal family has largely snubbed Meghan Markle's extended family. The photo uncovered by the Mail showing the "bishop" Markle in his full religious attire may be seen at this link. A more recent photo of the bishop may be seen at this link. With the exception of her mother, Doria Ragland, who attended the wedding of Meghan Markle and Britain's Prince Harry earlier this year, the royal family has largely snubbed the new duchess's relatives. Even her other uncle on her father's side, Michael Markle, was left off of the royal wedding invitation list, despite a distinguished career as a diplomat working for the United States State Department. Michael Markle, 78, is the eldest of the three Markle brothers, and in addition to having served in the U.S. Air Force, he performed diplomatic duty in Bucharest, Berlin, and Guam, according to a profile by The Vow. In fact, before she became a TV star, Meghan Markle planned a career in the U.S. foreign service, inspired by her uncle — who even secured an internship at the U.S. embassy in Argentina for the 20-year-old Meghan. But when it came time to draw up the invite list for the royal wedding, the duchess's senior uncle was dropped. "I've done more for her than the others. I've probably done more for her than most. I personally talked to the ambassador in Argentina for her," Michael Markle told Britain's Mirror newspaper. "I don't understand why she has been so ­indifferent towards me. It's uncalled for. I helped her out and I didn't ask for anything in return."