Thomas Markle says Oprah Winfrey is 'using' Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

• Thomas Markle said Oprah Winfrey is "using" Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to further her career.
• "I think she's using them to build her network and build her new show," he told "60 Minutes Australia."
• Thomas also said he is treated worse than an "axe murderer" for his "dumb mistake" three years ago.

Thomas Markle said he believes Oprah Winfrey is taking advantage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to further her television career.

Speaking in an interview with "60 Minutes Australia" that aired on Sunday, the 76-year-old accused the talk show host of "using" the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

"I think she's using them to build her network and build her new shows and I think she is taking advantage of a very weakened man and getting him to say things that you just shouldn't be saying on television," Thomas told host Tom Steinfort.

"She will disagree of course, and she may even sue me, I don't care. But the bottom line is she is working Harry," he added.

The Guardian previously reported that Winfrey signed a programming deal with Apple in 2018 for an undisclosed amount. Winfrey collaborated with Harry to create a mental-health documentary series with Apple TV+ titled "The Me You Can't See," which was released on May 21.

Meghan and Harry also sat down with Oprah for a 2-hour interview special in March, which averaged 17.1 million viewers in the US, CNN reported.

During the "60 Minutes Australia" interview, Thomas spoke about his relationship with Meghan and Harry, and said that he is treated worse than an axe murderer.

"Of course it hurts, there are axe murderers in prison and their family comes to see them. I'm not an axe murder. I made one dumb mistake and I've been punished for it," he told Steinfort.

"This show they've been on, they talk about compassion, there's no compassion for me, no compassion for my family, and no compassion for the world. If I had done something terribly wrong, that would be fine, but I haven't," he added.

Thomas has not spoken to Meghan since he admitted to staging paparazzi photos ahead of her wedding three years ago. He has not met Harry or his grandchildren Archie, 2, or Lilibet, who was born on June 4.

Meghan told Oprah in her March interview that she found it hard to reconcile his actions as she could not imagine "doing anything to intentionally cause pain to my child."

He was due to attend the royal wedding in 2018 and walk Meghan down the aisle, but told TMZ at the time that he suffered a heart attack six days before the event took place.

In the "60 Minutes" segment, Steinfort said that Thomas found out about their daughter Lilibet's birth from a news report.

Thomas said that he felt "disappointment" about finding out this way. "I find out after the fact and I have to deal with that," he added.

Thomas previously told The Sun that he was "very pleased" about the birth of his granddaughter Lilibet and wished the family "all my love and the best of luck."

Representatives for Winfrey did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.