Meghan Markle’s relationship with her father has been a topic of discussion for years, but a family friend has shed light on what the Duchess of Sussex was like as a preteen and high school student in Los Angeles.

Despite their current estrangement, the insider shared that Meghan and her father Thomas Markle had a loving and supportive relationship in the 1990s.

Meghan was described as a happy and determined girl who was very close with her dad.

Thomas was often seen picking up and dropping off Meghan at various locations, and was viewed by other school parents as a consistent parent.

Thomas was working as a lighting director in Hollywood, which became Meghan's stomping grounds and where she discovered her love of acting.

After Meghan's parents divorced when she was in junior high, she lived under the same roof as her dad during her formative years.

The family friend revealed that Thomas would bring Meghan with him to the lighting studios he worked at, soap operas, commercials, and more.

He was always picking her up and bringing her places, and Meghan was truly a daddy's girl.

However, Thomas caused quite a stir days before Meghan's wedding after a staged photo shoot he now regrets caused a family rift.

After the paparazzi scandal, Thomas suffered a heart attack and missed Meghan and Prince Harry's royal wedding at Windsor Castle in May 2018.

On the heels of Megxit, Thomas expressed disappointment in his daughter and Prince Harry, but the family friend said his views appear to be much different now than they were two decades ago.

The family friend added that the current rift between Thomas and Meghan is sad for many to see, especially considering how close they once were.

Thomas and Meghan's half-sister Samantha Markle continue to slam the former Suits actress in interviews following her recent departure from the United Kingdom to Canada.

In other news, columnist Tony Parsons believes that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle need the royal family far more than the royals need them.

Parsons wrote for The Sun that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, still clinging to their titles in California, are in dire need of the royal family.

He added that while Prince William's life leads to one destination, the crown, Harry must keep his American paymasters at Netflix, Spotify, and the rest happy.

The brothers were once inseparable, but it is now clear that they could not be on more different paths.

Despite the ongoing drama surrounding Meghan's relationship with her father and the royal family, it is important to remember the happy and loving moments she shared with Thomas during her childhood and teenage years.

Meghan was a determined girl who was supported by her dad as she pursued her dreams in Hollywood.

While their current relationship may be strained, the memories they created together will always be cherished.