Meghan Markle: Family and Background - November 2017-May 2018

[Pranter]

This ought to be an interesting week of family meetings....


LaRae

[Osipi]

As far as Tom Sr., It his personal decision whether to accept payments for photos or not. I get the feeling he was at the point where if he couldn't beat 'em, join 'em. There were no photos that were anything shocking and its not a reflection on either Tom or Meghan's character so to me, its no big deal.

[Curryong]

Higher-ups? William has his own embarrassing inlaws. And neither he nor Charles will blame Meghan because neither her father's stupid behaviour nor her half siblings' nastiness is her responsibility or fault.

[FashionMaven]

Originally Posted by Zaira

Even if he did do it because he was tired of being stalked...it was an extremely dumb move. This could blowback hard on his daughter because we all know folks think Meghan is all knowing and controlling and will find some way to blame her for this.

This is the height of poor judgement.

Yes I agree. This is so disheartening. I don't get what possessed him to do this. He had to know how badly this would play out, right? Just trifling. A week to go before the wedding. How embarrassing and hurtful for Meghan to have to even think about this mess. I hope she's avoiding the papers and she doesn't hear about this until well after the wedding. No point in upsetting her or Harry.

[soapstar]

Okay, let's try this again. A ton of off-comments have been deleted. Let's please remember some of the forum rules.

• Whenever possible, your opinions should be based on factual information obtained from reputable sources. We will delete posts that contain the more fanciful types of gossip and speculation.

• You are allowed to criticise royals and those associated with royals, but please note that name-calling and defamatory statements are against the forum rules (so it's not acceptable to call Meghan's family - trash, vile, mentally ill, etc ).

• The in-fighting between members is getting old and it disrupts the thread and makes it less enjoyable for other members. Please learn how to disagree without taking petty swipes at one another.

[Lady Reem]

As a member of the wedding bridal party this man is meant to be walking Meghan down the aisle in a few days time. Now with the video evidence of scamming does anyone think it will impact that in any way? Pretty damning evidence I’d say

Meghan Markle's father STAGED photos with paparazzi that sold for up to £100,000 | Daily Mail Online

[ACO]

No one blaming Meghan. In fact they made it extremely clear in the article no one knew it was staged until recently, I assume. After the picture of him looking at the book went viral was when likely when KP issued that privacy letter so many of the photographers are talking about online right now. It then became obvious they were staged and here we are. The RF are very aware of the Markles. I do feel bad for Meghan dealing with their crap but they just proving why she has kept her distance.

[Dman]

One have to remember that Meghan’s family live in America and none of them are used to this kind of media attention. The Markles don’t have the luxury of being guided by Palace officials on how to deal with everything, like the Middleton’s have.

I don’t agree with some members of the family freely talking about personal and old family issues, but they are green in judgement when it comes to the game.

It’s a whole different shebang for a family living way across the pond with no formal help.

I’m sure Mr. Markle and Ms. Ragland talk to their daughter and Harry, but that probably about it.

[ladongas]

Unlike many of the participants and guests at the wedding, Mr. Markle does not come from generations of wealth and luxury. He worked for what he has, and now he finds himself in a somewhat precarious financial position in his old age. Paparazzi have been filming him (buying a toilet! drinking a beer! walking down the street!), and making money from selling pictures of him to the tabs. What harm can there be for an old man to make a few hundred dollars in an honest manner?

[DuchessMia]

Originally Posted by ACO

So according to the paper they discovered that the pictures of him working out, at the Internet cafe, with the book, and getting measured were all taken the same day and staged. This all happened last month. KP had no idea and issued a letter after the 1st set published seeking privacy for her parents. Now Tom Sr has representation seeking privacy and KP refuses to speak. My guess is those flowers to Doria were peace offerings.

That’s awful. Doria is the only one that hasn’t cashed in.

[JuliannaVictoria]

Originally Posted by Dman

One have to remember that Meghan’s family live in America and none of them are used to this kind of media attention. The Markles don’t have the luxury of being guided by Palace officials on how to deal with everything, like the Middleton’s have.

I don’t agree with some members of the family freely talking about personal and old family issues, but they are green in judgement when it comes to the game.

It’s a whole different shebang for a family living way across the pond with no formal help.

DMAN, I respect you and your opinions, however I think that it's common decency and respect to not get in bed with the press. I would say if they made the mistake once dealing with the press in the beginning, and then backed off after they realise how anything can be spun, then that could be excused as "novice behaviour".

However, there is no excusing the Markle clan for their vile behaviour, and now we can add the father to the list.

[Zaira]

Originally Posted by JuliannaVictoria

DMAN, I respect you and your opinions, however I think that it's common decency and respect to not get in bed with the press. I would say if they made the mistake once dealing with the press in the beginning, and then backed off after they realise how anything can be spun, then that could be excused as "novice behaviour".

However, there is no excusing the Markle clan for their vile behaviour, and now we can add the father to the list.

Agreed. I love that people are trying to see some goodness in Mr Markle Sr, and perhaps this was an honest misstep.

But to put his daughter and son in law in such a position right before what should be one of the most joyous weeks of their lives is awful. If he was so financially strapped (which is an assumption we have no evidence to back up), that still doesn't excuse possibly selling out access to himself to paps, especially after his soon to be son-in-law went to bat for him with the media.

It seems like the only person Meghan can trust so far is Doria.

[O-H Anglophile]

Originally Posted by Lady Reem

As a member of the wedding bridal party this man is meant to be walking Meghan down the aisle in a few days time. Now with the video evidence of scamming does anyone think it will impact that in any way? Pretty damning evidence I’d say

Meghan Markle's father STAGED photos with paparazzi that sold for up to £100,000 | Daily Mail Online

Maybe the photographer offered to leave him alone if he posed for some photos. Besides, they were photos of Mr Markle-- even if he helped stage them, he didn't give an interview, he didn't reveal family secrets, he didn't throw Meghan or any other family member under the bus. And it seems all of them were taken at the same time, weeks ago. If anything, he conned the press.

[Curbside]

Originally Posted by Lady Reem

As a member of the wedding bridal party this man is meant to be walking Meghan down the aisle in a few days time. Now with the video evidence of scamming does anyone think it will impact that in any way? Pretty damning evidence I’d say

Meghan Markle's father STAGED photos with paparazzi that sold for up to £100,000 | Daily Mail Online

That's too funny, especially the caption where Mr. Markle is described as "scamming" the media...who are trying to make money invading people's privacy!

[Lady Reem]

Originally Posted by O-H Anglophile

Maybe the photographer offered to leave him alone if he posed for some photos. Besides, they were photos of Mr Markle-- even if he helped stage them, he didn't give an interview, he didn't reveal family secrets, he didn't throw Meghan or any other family member under the bus.

It’s still a scam no matter how it’s dress up as. And so unbecoming Plus there’s also the matter of trust & betrayal at play here. How can he be trusted to be around the royals? Exploiting his daughter in that way, so much for the ‘honourable, loving daddy’ tag. Why let her down in that way?!

[TLLK]

Yes I agree. This is so disheartening. I don't get what possessed him to do this. He had to know how badly this would play out, right? Just trifling. A week to go before the wedding. How embarrassing and hurtful for Meghan to have to even think about this mess. I hope she's avoiding the papers and she doesn't hear about this until well after the wedding. No point in upsetting her or Harry.

Yes it is disheartening to see that he's cooperated with the photographer after all. I find it especially awful in light of the fact that KP has issued a letter requesting that his privacy must be respected and asking that he to be left alone.



While I hate see the couple upset one week before the wedding, I believe it would be better for both of them to know the truth. These are adults who can handle this type of news.

[Osipi]

I really don't see that there is something nefarious about these pictures or receiving payment for posing for them. For all we know, Harry and Meghan may decide to have copies of them to put in their own personal photo album from their wedding. I had a pre-wedding photo take with my dog that I still cherish. Tom Sr. did not dishonor his daughter in my eyes. He posed for pictures preparing for his daughter's wedding and all it does is make him come across as the proud papa.

[Rudolph]

Originally Posted by Curryong

Higher-ups? William has his own embarrassing inlaws. And neither he nor Charles will blame Meghan because neither her father's stupid behaviour nor her half siblings' nastiness is her responsibility or fault.

Mike and Carole have never sold photos to paparazzi or the tabloids.

Mr Markle will be meeting the senior royal family. If he’s willing to play ball with the press over pics, who’s to say he won’t talk about George and Charlotte.

I didn’t say it’s Meghan’s fault but this kind of behaviour does nothing to ingratiate himself with the royals. I doubt Meghan is happy with it.

[TLLK]

Originally Posted by Curryong

Higher-ups? William has his own embarrassing inlaws. And neither he nor Charles will blame Meghan because neither her father's stupid behaviour nor her half siblings' nastiness is her responsibility or fault.

No Charles will not blame Meghan at all, though he will likely be concerned how this latest incident will impact his son and future daughter-in-law.

[O-H Anglophile]

Originally Posted by Lady Reem

It’s still a scam no matter how it’s dress up as. And so unbecoming Plus there’s also the matter of trust & betrayal at play here. How can he be trusted to be around the royals? Exploiting his daughter in that way, so much for the ‘honourable, loving daddy’ tag. Why let her down in that way?!

He didn't exploit Meghan and he SAID NOTHING about anyone. This judgement seems like an overreaction to me.