Thomas Markle hasn’t held back when it comes to discussing his daughter’s new life as part of the British royal family but his latest claim could be the most shocking yet.

Speaking to a British newspaper, Markle revealed that his daughter is “terrified” of her role as the Duchess of Sussex, claiming he can tell that she is feeling the pressure due to her “pained smile”.

The 73-year-old, who missed his daughter’s wedding to Prince Harry in May due to health problems, branded the royals “outdated” and said Meghan, 36, looked pained in recent photographs from the newlyweds’ official visit to Ireland.

He told The Sun on Sunday: “My thing about my daughter right now is that I think she is terrified. I see it in her eyes, I see it in her face and I see it in her smile. I’ve seen her smile for years. I know her smile. I don’t like the one I’m seeing now.

“This one isn’t even a stage smile – this is a pained smile. That might be just having a couple of bad days. I don’t know. It really worries me. I think she’s under too much pressure.

“There’s a high price to pay to be married to that family.”

Markle, who lives in Rosarito, Mexico, said he is concerned about how well his daughter is dealing with the transition from TV actress to perfectly polished member of the royal family.

Read more: Thomas Markle criticises the Queen as royals cut ties after tell-all interview.

This isn’t the first time he has criticised Meghan’s new in-laws though, last month he slammed Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth for meeting President Trump before him.

During an interview with gossip site TMZ, he said: “If the Queen is willing to meet our arrogant, ignorant, and insensitive president she has no excuse not to meet me,” he said. “I’m nowhere near as bad.”

Read more: Meghan Markle’s dad ‘staged media photos’, despite claims of harrassment.

In the run-up to Meghan’s royal nuptials, Markle Sr also attracted negative attention after it was revealed that he had earned $13,000 after collaborating with the paparazzi to stage several sets of photographs which showed him browsing articles about his daughter and Prince Harry online in an internet cafe.

He was also pictured getting measured for a wedding suit, and reading a book titled Images of Britain, as he prepared to walk his daughter down the aisle.

However, Markle sadly could not make it to the wedding as he suffered a heart attack which left him in need or urgent surgery and unable to travel. The Prince of Wales stepped in to take his place, walking Meghan down the aisle.

What do you think of Thomas Markle’s latest comments?