The Duchess of Sussex: Family and Background

[ACO]

Originally Posted by Lady Nimue

As much as people dislike Tom Jr, the guy did try to 'reconcile' with Tom Sr recently with the resulting comment made 'it will take time'.

That was so staged. I don't believe Tom Jr was at all sincere especially since he had a camera crew in tow. I mean, really? That was the Markles once again trying to grab any kind of attention they can and it worked for 5 seconds.

Anyways they can try all they want but Meghan will be protected. The BRF will not let them anywhere near her.

[AlowVera]

Originally Posted by jacqui24

See this is one of the parts that just didn’t make sense to me. How does he expect to go see his daughter in London with or without an invite? I’m really confused at this point about who he thinks is pissed at him? Meghan or Harry? Or the BRF? Why is he blaming the BRF for Meghan being pissed at him? He’s still stuck on the photo gate as if that’s his only mistake. Although I think letting him know the GMB interview and this is a mistake at this point is fruitless. I read a book recently that talked about interpersonal relationships and management and how no one likes to be told of their mistakes and will try to justify it in their minds. Even regarding things that are far worse.

I find it peculiar that this man who claims to be at deaths door would spend his last moments on earth pursuing fame and money and not chasing after better health or his grandchildren. I wish someone in the media would wake up! Even if you HATE Meghan, this man's actions are ridiculous. Instead of parroting this man's inane rantings what happened to the media that questions?

[Rudolph]

Andrew Neil is a very well respected journalist for the BBC. He’s the former editor of the Sunday Times.

He once said (paraphrasing) the only thing the British tabloids love more than a royal wedding is a royal divorce. He was speaking about Charles and Diana but the principal applies in general.

The tabloids love this sort of stuff from the Markles. It’s train wreck journalism.

And as long as they keeping yapping, the tabloids will keep printing it.

[Lady Nimue]

Originally Posted by ACO

That was so staged. I don't believe Tom Jr was at all sincere especially since he had a camera crew in tow. I mean, really? That was the Markles once again trying to grab any kind of attention they can and it worked for 5 seconds.

Ah, didn't know that.

[Dani257]

Originally Posted by Lady Nimue

While one can see a change in Meghan, it may be less substantive than apparent, having more to do with how and where we see her now, in what venues.

Prior to November it was all to do with her career as an actress, and then we saw her in the engagement interview. Lots of energy, lots of opportunities for personality to be expressed to the camera. But in fact nothing comparable has taken place since the engagement interview, just 'set pieces' that require a 'sombre mien', Meghan making sure she is paying attention to protocol and who goes first, photo calls whose viewing is limited by the location of the camera, a lot of watching her watching others. All that doesn't lend itself to a bubbly effusive 'image'.

I'm looking forward to her picking up some patronages and giving speeches as a duchess. That should give her more opportunities to show her personality. And maybe some solo engagements or some more informal ones with Harry. I think Wimbledon might be the most relaxed thing she's done since she got married. As far as official engagements go, I mean.

[Tarlita]

As I see it Mr Markle is essentially saying his little girl has lost her sparkle. Perhaps he is right. However, given time Meghan will adjust - just as every other new bride who has joined the Royal family has taken time to adjust. Just wait and see Meghan will soon relax and feel confident that she is doing a good job as a representative of the family and her Sparkle will return. Personally I think she has done very well ever since she first appeared.

[jacqui24]

Originally Posted by Tarlita

As I see it Mr Markle is essentially saying his little girl has lost her sparkle. Perhaps he is right. However, given time Meghan will adjust - just as every other new bride who has joined the Royal family has taken time to adjust. Just wait and see Meghan will soon relax and feel confident that she is doing a good job as a representative of the family and her Sparkle will return. Personally I think she has done very well ever since she first appeared. Who knows she may be suffering from an entirely different kind of conflict that will make us all very happy in 8 months or so.

Yea, that’s not what he’s saying. What you are talking about is finding a balance. He’s gone pst that. At this point, he just sounds like a child who isn’t getting his way and thinks a temper tantrum is the way to go.

[M. Payton]

As they say when a child acts out, he/she is looking for attention in all the wrong places by doing all the wrong things....that sums it up for me regarding Sr. here.

[TLLK]

Originally Posted by Rudolph

Andrew Neil is a very well respected journalist for the BBC. He’s the former editor of the Sunday Times.

He once said (paraphrasing) the only thing the British tabloids love more than a royal wedding is a royal divorce. He was speaking about Charles and Diana but the principal applies in general.

The tabloids love this sort of stuff from the Markles. It’s train wreck journalism.

And as long as they keeping yapping, the tabloids will keep printing it.

Sadly I have to agree. Samantha and Tom Jr. have nothing to lose by speaking to the media. Their relationship with their half-sister ended years ago, but the tabloids have shown that they're more than willing to keep printing their "exclusive stories" or rants.



As a parent I can understand his concern for Meghan's change in demeanor, however she is living a very different life than the one she'd had in the U.S. and Canada. Even though she's about to celebrate her 37th birthday, she'll always be his child.




Tom Sr. on the other hand is going to lose everything with his youngest child if this behavior continues. However he's obviously investing time and effort into his relationship with the tabloids.

[jacqui24]

The tabloids will continue to print what they print because it fits a narrative they long decided on. They have to fill the column pages somehow.

[JR76]

Originally Posted by Rudolph

And as long as they keeping yapping, the tabloids will keep printing it.

Originally Posted by jacqui24

The tabloids will continue to print what they print because it fits a narrative they long decided on. They have to fill the column pages somehow.

The tabloids will continue to print these stories as long as they can make money out of them. If people stopped clicking on the articles they would stop writing them.

When people went after the press for literally hounding Diana to death one of the top paparazzi (a British guy who was in all the documentaries at the time although I can't remember his name) said something of the like of "you complain about us but you're the ones who bought the papers".

This is basically what Omid Scobie said on last week's episode of On Heir - If we stop reading the articles they'll stop writing them.

[AlowVera]

Finally someone calls out Tom Sr. misbehavior!

https://amp.thedailybeast.com/now-me...mpression=true

[duchessrachel]

Originally Posted by AlowVera

Finally someone calls out Tom Sr. misbehavior!

https://amp.thedailybeast.com/now-me...mpression=true

Someone else is calling him out too: https://www.refinery29.com/2018/07/2...d-royal-duties

[ACO]

Tom Sykes flipping his opinion is actually really interesting. He has been notoriously hard on Harry and Meghan, so for him to come to their defense is fascinating. Thomas Sr is just proving to the world that he is an awful person. No one is buying his "poor, naive" act anymore and thank goodness. These recent interviews killed whatever pity people had left for him.

He will get his headlines today and tomorrow Harry and Meghan are back in public with another engagement. So the focus will shift again. I am grateful Meghan really has support from her mother, husband, close friends, and now her new family. That is all she needs and the Markles can seethe.

And another piece: https://www.the-pool.com/news-views/...absent-fathers

So glad people are calling him out. Samantha is on the defense but there is nothing to defend.

[AlowVera]

Originally Posted by duchessrachel

Someone else is calling him out too: https://www.refinery29.com/2018/07/2...d-royal-duties

Finally but it only seems to be US publications that are actually putting it all together. UK publications are still paying him with the sole purpose of embarrassing and emotionally abusing his daughter. Put away your hatred for Meghan and ask is it right to emotionally abuse and manipulate any child. The UK press are aiding and abetting this man in his emotional abuse and bullying of his daughter and it is not right.

[wyevale]

aiding and abetting this man in his emotional abuse and bullying of his daughter and it is not right.

*Hold the Front Page*..

Since when has any 'media' anywhere not capitalised on Family dysfunction when it could make them Money ?
The reality is they always have and always will, so it is unrealistic to expect them to change.
It is SOLELY Markle Sr who is responsible for selling his Daughter 'down the [proverbial] River'.

If he shut his mouth, and his wallet, none of this would be happening.

[_Heather_]

*sigh* Tom Markle. Again. Ugh. Now, I will say that I, too, see Meghan's smile being a little dimmer or tighter and her overall demeanor appears a bit more on edge and nervous and she appears to have toned down that over eager vivaciousness that we saw from her previously. But, I think that's probably a combination of a lot of things and certainly not to be solely blamed on the royal family. In fact, I'd say that most of it has to do with her own family and certainly with her father. Combine that with the full force of joining the royal family, learning about a new position and a new role and a new country, settling into marriage, and being constantly scrutinized by the press and the public and I think anyone's smile would be a bit forced and their demeanor a bit dimmed.

[ladongas]

...to see Meghan’s mother sometime this summer. And while they are there, arrange to see Mr. Markle in a hotel- get him a room. That way, Harry could meet him, and Meghan could be seen to be taking the high road.

She really doesn’t want to risk his dying with this issue unresolved.

Show him the wedding pictures and some snaps of their home, keep the conversation light. This way, he doesn’t have to travel, there’s no issue of his meeting the family and talking about it to the press, and Meghan and Harry will have done the right thing. Maybe even have a picture taken together.

Short, sweet, and it would leave very little for him to talk to the press about. This is how they ‘vaccinate’ themselves against charges of cruel neglect (perceived). He is her father, and he isn’t exactly evil, just foolish.

[jacqui24]

Originally Posted by _Heather_

*sigh* Tom Markle. Again. Ugh. Now, I will say that I, too, see Meghan's smile being a little dimmer or tighter and her overall demeanor appears a bit more on edge and nervous and she appears to have toned down that over eager vivaciousness that we saw from her previously. But, I think that's probably a combination of a lot of things and certainly not to be solely blamed on the royal family. In fact, I'd say that most of it has to do with her own family and certainly with her father. Combine that with the full force of joining the royal family, learning about a new position and a new role and a new country, settling into marriage, and being constantly scrutinized by the press and the public and I think anyone's smile would be a bit forced and their demeanor a bit dimmed.

I honestly think it has more to do with the events. We got a bit of that vivaciousness when they were at the sports complex with the kids. It was almost like back to one of their engagements during the engagement tour. In general, I do think people feed off the energy of those around them. If the event is generally demur, then yea, they'll be calmer. But if the crowd has a lot of excitement, then their demeanor will also reflect.

There is a backdrop to the Ireland tour that we, as royal watchers, didn't see a lot of or discussed a lot in the press (which is appropriate), and that's the security issue. While the security relaxed since the last time the Queen was there, it was still unbelievably tight. Omid reported that when they did the walkabout, there were 11 people just surrounding them, plus on rooftops and such. That has to be a concern as well. I did notice their walkabout were much more controlled, even from Harry.

Originally Posted by wyevale

*Hold the Front Page*..

I like this. A lot. This could be the new shut the front door.

[Kataryn]

Originally Posted by _Heather_

*. Combine that with the full force of joining the royal family, learning about a new position and a new role and a new country, settling into marriage, and being constantly scrutinized by the press and the public and I think anyone's smile would be a bit forced and their demeanor a bit dimmed.

I am honestly positively surprised how Meghan deals with it all. That father of her's is a typical example of those egoistic fathers who can see their cvhild only as a belonging, but noone to respect. I personally think it is not so bad for Maghan (or that there is at least a bit of light in all this) because it makes people sympathize with her, at least those who have a bit of experience with dysfunctional families. And I am sure Harry and William have a lot of understanding after having had to deal with their parents' public shenanigans and scandals. Plus I like the way Catherine reacts to Meghan on taking her by the hand - it was cute to see how Meghan looks to her or Harry for clues and tries to react immediately, doing all she can not to stand in the sun and casting shadows on Catherine.