Now Meghan’s father says he’s ‘extremely hurt’ by Harry’s claim
Prince said the royals were like the family his fiancée never had
IT was meant to be a reflection on the wonderful Christmas they had spent together.
But Prince Harry ‘deeply hurt’ Meghan Markle’s father by claiming the royals were ‘the family she never had’, it has been alleged.
The prince made the comments earlier this week on BBC Radio 4, saying his fiancée had enjoyed a ‘fantastic’ Christmas at Sandringham in Norfolk.
‘She’s done an absolutely amazing job,’ he told the Today programme. ‘She’s getting in there, and it’s the family I suppose that she’s never had.’
His remarks have upset some members of Miss Markle’s family, including her halfbrother Thomas Markle Jnr.
The 51-year-old, of Grants Pass, Oregon, said the actress has a family who had ‘smothered her with love’ and made a point of celebrating every holiday together. ‘She’s had a really good family,’ he told the Mail Online.
‘We were as close as we could be, as tight as we could be, that’s what we were. We’d get together on Christmases, on holidays, on birthday, on Thanksgivings … She was very privileged. She got everything she ever wanted.
‘One way or the other, we all made the rounds and saw each other. When we could, we got together for Christmas dinners.
‘So as far as “the family she never had” goes, she probably had like four Christmases in one day – it would be a really busy day.’
Speaking about their father, retired lighting director Thomas Markle Snr, 73, he added: ‘My father will be extremely hurt, actually. He dedicated the majority of all his time and everything to her. He made sure she had what she needed to be successful and get to where she’s at today.’
The half-brother’s comments echo those made by his estranged sister Samantha Grant, 53, of Ocala, Florida, who said on Wednesday that Miss Markle has a ‘large family who were always there with her’.
Writing on Twitter, she said: ‘Our household was very normal and when Dad and Doria divorced, we all made it so it was like she had two houses.
‘No one was estranged, she was just too busy. Meg’s family is complete with sister, brother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and the glue of our family, our amazing completely self-sacrificing father.’
Miss Markle, whose engagement to Prince Harry was announced at the end of November, has spent most of the past month in London.
The couple made several public appearances together following the announcement, including a trip to Nottingham and a visit to Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s annual pre-Christmas party.
Breaking with tradition, Miss Markle went on to spend Christmas at Sandringham, the royals’ Norfolk home – a privilege not usually extended to partners until they are married.
The 36-year-old also turned out for church on Christmas morning with the rest of the Royal Family.
Mr Markle Jnr has not spent the festive season with his half-sister for at least 15 years.
He has not seen or spoken to Miss Markle since 2011, and said they had lost touch after she moved to Toronto, Canada, to take up a role in TV drama Suits.
Kensington Palace has suggested Miss Markle’s father will be closely involved in the wedding, which is being funded by the Royal Family.
Last year Mr Markle Snr declared himself bankrupt in California. He left his Los Angeles home and moved to Mexico, where he has rebuilt his life and kept a low profile. Prince Harry is yet to meet his future father-in-law.
Prince Charles was the hardestworking royal this year, with a total of 546 engagements. But his sister Princess Anne, long lauded as one of the most dutiful royals, was close behind with 540.