The Duchess of Sussex: Family and Background

[Lady Reem]

Originally Posted by Missy-

Who cares what he talks about, you're missing my point. He doesn't have any inside information now, he hasn't in the past and he won't in the future. There will never be a close relationship with his daughter again, he knows this already, there is nothing for him to lose and only money to be gained. And he is a cash cow for the media, they will milk him for all he's worth. Get used to it, he's not going away.

I wouldn’t trust a word he sells to the media about the royals, not after his long running staged photo scams (till he got caught red handed)....He is so untrustworthy as an individual that my entire sympathies lie with the royals.

I just hope moving forward they take precaution like cutting of contact to ensure privacy is maintained, boundaries aren’t crossed and future family are protected from exploitation and emotional harm (as he clearly doesn’t give a damn about the damage or the negative impact on his own daughter’s wellbeing). But there’s also another sad angle to all this, how the strain of it all can take its toll on even the strongest of relationships. The Sussex’s shouldn’t have to be dealing with this especially not so early on in a new marriage. Yet here we are.

[Cocoasneeze]

I have to add, about that interview, I'm still confused how Mr Markle repaired his own image by revealing private conversations between himself and Meghan. That logic just doesn't compute.

[Lady Reem]

Originally Posted by jacqui24

Notice how Samantha Markle’s golden well dried up? Oh and remember how the Dooleys were invited to cover the royal wedding for GMB? I don’t recall them being there. While GMB denied they’ll be on air few days before the wedding, they refused to comment if they were originally scheduled to be.

True. But they had the big’un waiting in the wings and my goodness he sure did deliver for the media on a grand scale!! For me the bit where Snr went “he has his politics, I have mine” etc. - was a sly move/low blow and to me, designed to give the impression Harry was more into the other guy’s politics...

Snr was certainly contrived in his demure demeanour on telly (my opinion)but I don’t in a million years buy the narrative that he is naive and being taken advantage of.

Seeking out media attention over and over despite the help offered to him by Harry and palace reps, plus ignoring his daughter’s pleas - tells me all I need to know about him.

[Cocoasneeze]

Originally Posted by Lady Reem

True. But they had the big’un waiting in the wings and my goodness he sure did deliver for the media on a grand scale!! For me the bit where Snr went “he has his politics, I have mine” etc. - was a sly move/low blow and to me, designed to give the impression Harry was more into the other guy’s politics...

Snr was certainly contrived in his demure demeanour on telly (my opinion)but I don’t in a million years buy the narrative that he is naive and being taken advantage of.

Seeking out media attention over and over despite the help offered to him by Harry and palace reps, plus ignoring his daughter’s pleas - tells me all I need to know about him.

I completely agree. Personally I think, that Mr Markle is quite manipulative. He hides it behind this shy, oh shucks, demure attitude, but I don't think this was a spur of the moment thing, and imho it had nothing to do with his image. IMHO he's pretty much agreeing with Samantha with her views. She is his mouth piece, has been for months. I have no doubt, that had Snr put his foot down and told her to stop slagging off Meghan, she would have. I think Samantha and Snr feed off each other and egg each other on. And I think Snr did insert the Trump and Brexit stuff in by purpose, to get Harry into a bit of trouble.

[M. Payton]

You realize that none of the Markle's are ever going to let up on Meghan, they will be breathing down Harry's and her neck the rest of their lives now. They are so jealous and envious of her and what she has done with her life, they I bet feel she owes them for everything she has and then some. I have only known and see this much hate towards a family member once in my life and never thought I would see it again....here it is, black and white for all to see. I feel so sorry for Harry and Meghan for they do not need this type of pressure on them all the time. It is just sad how this father has disrespected his own daughter this way..disgusting and despicable does not even begin to describe it.

Just get ready for the next round of crap coming from the Markle's. -

[Lady Reem]

Originally Posted by Cocoasneeze

I completely agree. Personally I think, that Mr Markle is quite manipulative. He hides it behind this shy, oh shucks, demure attitude, but I don't think this was a spur of the moment thing, and imho it had nothing to do with his image. IMHO he's pretty much agreeing with Samantha with her views. She is his mouth piece, has been for months. I have no doubt, that had Snr put his foot down and told her to stop slagging off Meghan, she would have. I think Samantha and Snr feed off each other and egg each other on. And I think Snr did insert the Trump and Brexit stuff in by purpose, to get Harry into a bit of trouble.

Yep.

I found those bits excruciating to watch. The “we talked a few times about DT.....we’ve had conversations about him”

And his smirk & snide giggle as he responded when asked if Harry was a supporter of T. ..”I would hope not now, but at the time he might have been”

Beyond belief!

[Denville]

Celeb?? Come on. an actress in a show that isn't even that popular? but assuming Mr M is telling the truth bout Harry, sounds like Harry is not anti Trump....

[Cocoasneeze]

Ok, first Meghan was called too Hollywood, too much of a celebrity to become a member of the RF, and it was said, that she would make the whole Royal Family a Hollywood circus. But now Meghan wasn't a celebrity at all. I personally don't care, she is doing wonderful job only one month in as a royal. My point was, that Meghan has made her stand re trump very clear. And I'm not giving any credibility to Mr Markle's words, he has shown to twist the truth the few times he's spoken to the tabloids.

[Denville]

She's not a celebrity, unless Z list. She was a small time actress, in a Niche market TV show.

[jacqui24]

Goodness gracious this conversation is all over the place.

Yes, what he did was stupid. But he’s hardly lashed out at his daughter. He treats “his image” as if it means anything in the grander scheme of things, which is foolish and just makes me think he hasn’t gotten the grip of what his daughter’s new life is like. I mean she’s living in a royal fishbowl where she has behaved impeccably herself yet people makes unfair criticism of every little thing she does. It means he can’t see the bigger picture and prioritize. It makes him selfish. But it hardly means he feel like he’s better than his daughter.

As for the Trump comments. I’m not sure if most people living outside of UK that doesn’t follow royal family and how they behave over the years would know they have to stay neutral on politics. I think Tom has strong opinion about Trump like most people in US does right now and again he jumps to the way he feels like does about his image. I just really doubt he’s intelligent enough or know how all this has to work in Harry and now his daughter’s new role to think of all that on the spot. A lot of this is counter intuitive to an American. Especially an old man who’s set in his ways and can’t see why it doesn’t work when others have certain roles. And there is certainly nothing wrong with what Harry said.

I do have to wonder though, we all know the members of the royal family are politically neutral and thus not comment on politicians or policies positively or negatively. And some of us always wonder and speculate about their true feelings are on politics and assume they do feel one way or another. But now I’m wondering if their training actually goes deeper than just sit there and shut up. If they are actually trained To take your own feelings out of it no matter what and try to get everyone to unite to make the best of what’s been dealt.

[AlowVera]

Originally Posted by Denville

Celeb?? Come on. an actress in a show that isn't even that popular? but assuming Mr M is telling the truth bout Harry, sounds like Harry is not anti Trump....

Shows that are not popular do not last 7 seasons, they are canceled. No need to take potshots at Meghan and her career.

The father is the wild card that needs to be contained. As awful his behavior has been they need to retain a neutral relationship with him. Set him up in a nice retirement community and let it be known so he can't say they don't support him. They need to take him out of the equation. Unlike Samantha, I don't think being a POS is his normal disposition. He just wants a settlement like his brother says.

[ACO]

The fact we also know that Piers and his GMB team spent DAYS with Thomas planning this interview just tells me how very, very coached he was in certain things. Thomas out of the blue mentioning Brexit is highly suspect. But Piers got his quote. Well worth the $10K charge.

[Purrs]

Originally Posted by AlowVera

The father is the wild card that needs to be contained. As awful his behavior has been they need to retain a neutral relationship with him. Set him up in a nice retirement community and let it be known so he can't say they don't support him. They need to take him out of the equation. Unlike Samantha, I don't think being a POS is his normal disposition. He just wants a settlement like his brother says.

This suggestion isn't going to happen. Firstly, it is rewarding his behaviour and does not to discourage him from continuing to blab to the media.There is no way a NDA can be enforced. Second, it emboldens other members of his family to keep talking to the media, in hope of extracting money/other things from the Royal Family. Third, it emboldens others to attempt the same thing. If what you say is true (Tom Sr. wanting a settlement), he is not the first grifter that the Royal Family has dealt with (there have been others for example claiming to be illegitimate children). The last thing they are going to do is encourage this.

In my opinion they are doing the right thing, detach and ignore as one should with toxic family members who crave attention.

[Rudolph]

Isn’t there saying about it’s better to have your enemies on the inside shooting out, than on the outside shooting in? Something like that.

In this case Meghan’s paternal family can be viewed as the ‘enemy’.

There’s basically two choices. Try and come to some arrangements and accommodations or cut ties completely.

If you cut ties completely there’s zero incentive for Meghan’s dad to stay in his lane.

It comes down to what you think is the lesser of two evils.

[AlowVera]

Originally Posted by Purrs

This suggestion isn't going to happen. Firstly, it is rewarding his behaviour and does not to discourage him from continuing to blab to the media.There is no way a NDA can be enforced. Second, it emboldens other members of his family to keep talking to the media, in hope of extracting money/other things from the Royal Family. Third, it emboldens others to attempt the same thing. If what you say is true (Tom Sr. wanting a settlement), he is not the first grifter that the Royal Family has dealt with (there have been others for example claiming to be illegitimate children). The last thing they are going to do is encourage this.

In my opinion they are doing the right thing, detach and ignore as one should with toxic family members who crave attention.

I think the have to take the hit and neutralize the father. They need to get him in a nice retirement community and just fly him in for christenings and then fly him out.

The Piers interview shows that he can be prepped to say political things that may not even be true. What next? He needs to be contained.

[wyevale]

Try and come to some arrangements and accommodations

The problem with so [seemingly] rational and reasonable a plan is that Blackmailers ALWAYS comeback for more..
The disreputable Markles are really hoping by a drip-feed of negative publicity about the Duke and Duchess to extract financial gain.
Any HINT of an 'arrangement'[which for the Markles would HAVE to be financial], would be a disaster, and an ongoing one..
The ONLY way to beat such freeloaders is to blank them, permanently and irrevocably..

[ACO]

Originally Posted by Rudolph

Isn’t there saying about it’s better to have your enemies on the inside shooting out, than on the outside shooting in? Something like that.

In this case Meghan’s paternal family can be viewed as the ‘enemy’.

There’s basically two choices. Try and come to some arrangements and accommodations or cut ties completely.

If you cut ties completely there’s zero incentive for Meghan’s dad to stay in his lane.

It comes down to what you think is the lesser of two evils.

Your own mental health is the most important things in the end. If Meghan has decided to cut Thomas off then she likely felt it was the final straw because we have seen she was attempting around the wedding. You can only put up with so much. And no doubt there is more to this then we know as there usually is behind the scene. Everyone reaches their breaking point.

Also Thomas's sympathy train is slowing down. Some felt bad for the pictures. Others not so much. This interview definitely tainted him with a lot of people but there are some who still see his POV. But that is it. He said his piece. If he does it again I suspect not many will see him in a positive light.

The Markles have all shown their intentions. The sister, the brother, the nephews, and now the father. The same agenda. I don't blame the RF for not wanting any part of it. And they have shown just how easily they can shift positive attention right back to them. I barely heard anyone talk about them yesterday. There was too much other stuff going on.

No doubt the Markles will strike again soon enough but I do feel overall people are exhausted by them and their attempts to hurt Meghan. Thomas won't be getting to spend time with "His royal family" as he told GMB. How ridiculous. The Markles are the worst.

[Cocoasneeze]

I don't think Meghan should bring in any distant relatives, she hasn't been in contact for years before meeting Harry. Why should she? They don't like her at all. Why would she want them in her life in any way or form? Just so they won't blab to the media? They have nothing to blab about.

As for her father. He was in. Meghan apparently talked with him regularly. She confided in him. Her and Harry offered support and help, to go to visit. He declined. They cant force him and can't make him see them/accept help etc. He rather went to TMZ, Piers Morgan and Samantha foe help. He spilled the private conversations he had with Meghan to TMZ and Piers. No doubt to Samantha too.

IMHO best approach is to ignore them. Call to Snr once in a while, nothing personal, just to check on him. That's it.

[Lady Reem]

Originally Posted by AlowVera

I think the have to take the hit and neutralize the father. They need to get him in a nice retirement community and just fly him in for christenings and then fly him out.

But H&M had brought him into the fold plus closed ranks to warn off the tabloids when he complained about “media intrusion”... They offered practical help and everything else and yet how has he repaid them? Seems it’s a case of wanting to have his cake and eat it, at play here. And with all that’s happened recently do you honestly believe involving him further in royal life will prevent his daughter Sam & ladyfriend Lori getting information to feed off? He’s shown his true hand several times now, so what makes you think he can be trusted now, what’s changed? And even if royal family information is kept from him, sharing a public life with him will in essence legitimise whatever he says (true or false), and whenever he feels like it.

[Missjersey]

$$$ with these folks always $. IMO, time to acknowledge them as personae non gratae.