Thomas Markle Jr wrote a letter to the Queen last year saying that Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding should be halted, claiming his sister was a 'danger to the royal family'.
But now he's attempting to mend the family breakdown and made an impassioned plea on Italian TV, in which he said he wanted to see his nephew or niece when they are born.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's baby is due in the next few weeks.
Holding back tears on the Live Non E La D'Urso show in Italy, Thomas, 52, said: 'I wrote that letter in a period of real frustration.
'She did reply and said I was only distant family and I felt very frustrated by it. I couldn't believe it, as we were so close growing up as kids"
When asked why he had called Meghan a 'danger to the Crown' Thomas said: 'No, no, she's absolutely not a danger to the Royal Family. She is a loving, warm intelligent person who loves her family. She's an extraordinary woman.
'The last time I spoke to Meghan was 2011. The big question is why she doesn't want to speak to me or her sister Samantha. There is a lot of pressure on her. She went into the spotlight overnight and it's been very difficult.
'I reached out to her for help to deal with the press but didn't get any and it was all very frustrating for me. That's why I wrote that letter."
He added: 'Things have changed since I wrote that letter. I am all for Meghan and I want to be reunited as a family. I just want to say I love you very much and I want us to be together as a family.
'Any new baby that comes into a family is a very big deal. I would love to meet the little prince or princess.'
Meghan and her family famously share a complicated history that was widely shared before her marriage to the Duke of Sussex back in May, but the royal baby brings hope for reconciliation.
Just last week, a source close to the Duchess said Meghan is considering ‘extending an olive branch’ to her estranged father after she gives birth to her first child next month.
The source told DailyMail.com that although the royal had been left miserable by months of embarrassing revelations, she hopes the birth will mark the start of a new chapter.
Meghan has also told friends that she understands the pressure her US-based family members are under and hopes they will use their position ‘to make a difference rather than criticise her’ in future.
