Inside Meghan Markle's strained relationship with 'total recluse' dad Thomas

In a candid home video produced when she was just 18, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry's fiancee, admits to having a strained relationship with her father Thomas Markle.

The video obtained by the Sun was shot by Ninaki Priddy, the maid of honour at Markle's first wedding. The two are seen driving around Los Angeles as they excitedly chat about the Suits actor's upcoming audition for a Shakira music video.

As they approach Markle's dad's neighbourhood, she says: "We're four minutes from my dad's house. From my dad's house we can see the Hollywood sign, but we aren't going to go there."

She then reveals their fractured relationship saying: "My dad and I aren't on the best of terms. I'd like to stop and see if I have any mail, but let's just say I doubt it."

Markle's parents, Thomas and Doria, split in 1988, 10 years before the footage was filmed. Her half brother Thomas Markle Jr previously described their father as a "total recluse".

DailyMailTV has also released pictures of Thomas at his home in Rosarito, Mexico. Thomas, a former Emmy-winning lighting director, is living alone at his beachfront house. But is said to travel often to Oregon, US to visit his eldest brother Michael.

According to Daily Mail, Thomas' neighbours say that he spends most of his time at home, shops at the nearby Walmart and often tells his friends: "Have you heard of Meghan Markle? I am her dad."

His family has confirmed that Thomas will be attending his daughter's wedding to Prince Harry next spring. Although, he is yet to met his future son-in-law.

Last year on father's day Markle posted a tribute to her dad on Instagram. The picture showed Thomas cuddling his newborn daughter accompanied by the caption: "Happy Father's Day, daddy. I'm still your buckaroo, and to this day your hugs are still the very best in the whole wide world. Thanks for my work ethic, my love of Busby Berkeley films & club sandwiches, for teaching me the importance of handwritten thank you notes, and for giving me that signature Markle nose. I love you xo -Bean"

The latest video, where the soon-to-be Princess is still an aspiring actor, was shot in the summer of 1999. She says that her Shakira audition went well and if she books it she gets paid $600 (£445) for two days of work.

"It's an insight into a world Meghan has been trying to protect. She tries to project a certain public persona. This is an unguarded version of herself, with her vulnerabilities and insecurities," the Sun quotes Markle's former best friend Priddy as saying.

Priddy had earlier hit out at Markle saying she completely changed as soon as she started gaining fame on the Suits legal drama. "The tone of her voice, her mannerisms, the way she laughed didn't seem real to me anymore," she was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

She also added that Markle had always been fascinated by the royal family and even talked about moving to London. "I know the Royal Family was something she found fascinating. She had one of Princess Diana's books [Diana: Her True Story] on her bookshelf, and even when she was with Trevor [Markle's first husband] she told me she wanted to go and stay in London for at least a month," she said.

Markle split with Trevor Engelson in 2013 after two years of wedlock.

She and Prince Harry are set to tie the knot in May next year at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.