The Duchess of Sussex: Family and Background

[jacqui24]

Originally Posted by XeniaCasaraghi

I'm sorry but no, yes the Markle's are a problem but there is still no excuse for only having 1 family member at her wedding.

What do you suggest she do then? Invite those that’s been lashing out at her because they aren’t getting the recognition they feel they now deserve by sheer genetic lottery that they are related to her or extended family that she’s not close with? She invited people that’s been close to her since she was a young adult.

[Pranter]

I don't blame her at all for only having Doria there.

Very few families are the 'Leave it to Beaver' ...everyone has their various dysfunction (including the BRF). Also not all families have a large extended group. I have cousins I haven't seen in decades along with other family..we were never close or raised around each other. I wouldn't (and didn't) invite them to my wedding.

The last thing I'd do is invite people who were known to try and cause problems.

LaRae

[Kataryn]

Mr. Markle worked in Hollywood in the media scene and was very successful there. You don't get Emmys for being naive or just a good director of photography. We know he read about Meghan and Harry, so he must have known that Meghan shunned Piers Morgan as soon as she learned from Harry about him. Or a phonecall would have made him find out. That he went there anyway is a real betrayal. OTOH Meghan and Harry seem to be able to rely on their friends to keep their mouthes shut. We have an old saying in Germany: friends are God's excuse and recompense for the family he settled you with. Maybe this explains why Meghan was so friendly received by the BRF.

[loonytick]

Originally Posted by ladongas

Count me as one who doesn’t think that Mr. Markle is obliged to keep his mouth shut for the rest of his days. He’s an American citizen who doesn’t have to keep his opinions to himself lest he upset the grey men of BP or KP. Besides that, what he said was pretty anodyne.

He may have the right to talk to whomever he likes, but in choosing to exercise that right in this way he’s shown his daughter and son in law that he can’t be trusted.

Just because you can do a thing doesn’t mean you should.

[Dman]

Originally Posted by XeniaCasaraghi

I'm sorry but no, yes the Markle's are a problem but there is still no excuse for only having 1 family member at her wedding.

The media and royal watchers online has pretty much failed to understand the true extent of the damaged relationships within the Markle family.

At first, I thought this craziness was about a family not being able to handle the media attention Meghan and Harry’s relationship brought. Well, it goes much deeper than that. The Markle family have a lot of demons in their history. It’s only coming to light because of the spotlight this royal relationship. Now we’re understanding why Meghan distance herself from her family and didn’t invite them to her wedding.

Meghan obviously loves her father and wanted him to be at the wedding, but her relationship with him remains bad in a way. There’s a reason why no effort has been made for Harry to even meet him. I think it has something to do with his relationship with his daughter.

Originally Posted by Pranter

I don't blame her at all for only having Doria there.

Very few families are the 'Leave it to Beaver' ...everyone has their various dysfunction (including the BRF). Also not all families have a large extended group. I have cousins I haven't seen in decades along with other family..we were never close or raised around each other. I wouldn't (and didn't) invite them to my wedding.

The last thing I'd do is invite people who were known to try and cause problems.

LaRae

Yeah, every family have their issues, including the royal family. I just feel bad that Meghan’s own father seems to be out to hurt her. He’s refused the help of Harry and Meghan and palace officials on dealing with everything.

[AlowVera]

Originally Posted by Dman

The media and royal watchers online has pretty much failed to understand the true extent of the damaged relationships within the Markle family.

At first, I thought this craziness was about a family not being able to handle the media attention Meghan and Harry’s relationship brought. Well, it goes much deeper than that. The Markle family have a lot of demons in their history. It’s only coming to light because of the spotlight this royal relationship. Now we’re understanding why Meghan distance herself from her family and didn’t invite them to her wedding.

Meghan obviously loves her father and wanted him to be at the wedding, but her relationship with him remains bad in a way. There’s a reason why no effort has been made for Harry to even meet him. I think it has something to do with his relationship with his daughter.



Yeah, every family have their issues, including the royal family. I just feel bad that Meghan’s own father seems to be out to hurt her. He’s refused the help of Harry and Meghan and palace officials on dealing with everything.

He says that Meghan cried over him not being there, but during that time he was calling up TMZ giving them a play by play of his heart issues. WHO DOES THAT!! there are no excuses for this man. Why would he gaslight his own daughter when his name was on the program.

He also said that Harry offered help on the ground but he refused! and yet they want to blame Harry and Meghan for this?

If they don't tell him all their plans its because he spills to his children, who then sell the information to the press.

[DuchessMia]

Originally Posted by Cocoasneeze

Are you really taking Thomas Snr and his word as the truth? Do people REALLY believe, that Harry would discuss with Snr about Trump and Brexit? The only one looking bad here is Snr, he betrayed Meghan and Harry's trust, talked about private matters, and NONE of this should be a public discussion.

I don’t believe Harry has spoken to Markle about Brexit or Trump. He’s shown he can’t be trusted, so why discuss something so politically sensitive with a man willing to repeatedly sell out his daughter. Nah.

[jacqui24]

Originally Posted by Kataryn

Mr. Markle worked in Hollywood in the media scene and was very successful there. You don't get Emmys for being naive or just a good director of photography. We know he read about Meghan and Harry, so he must have known that Meghan shunned Piers Morgan as soon as she learned from Harry about him. Or a phonecall would have made him find out. That he went there anyway is a real betrayal. OTOH Meghan and Harry seem to be able to rely on their friends to keep their mouthes shut. We have an old saying in Germany: friends are God's excuse and recompense for the family he settled you with. Maybe this explains why Meghan was so friendly received by the BRF.

Actually, Piers Morgan is quite reputable in US to those that don't follow UK media a lot. He hosted his own show on CNN while he was here and that's how most American knows him. I'm not saying he is reputable because I'm well aware of his connection to DM, but I didn't know this about him until I was here. Meghan has never spoken about her one meeting with Piers, and I doubt she ever will. Just because she closed ranks after meeting Harry doesn't necessarily mean she's going to think to warn her father off of Piers specifically (until now, there is no reason for them even to bring up Piers Morgan in private conversations I'd imagine).

As for his success as a lighting director, it doesn't mean he knows anything about how to deal with the press. He's an introvert man who has obviously chosen to live a quite secluded life before this. The fact that we, as royal watchers who has spent years watching how those around royals are expected to react to unfair press coverage, doesn't change that fact.

Originally Posted by DuchessMia

I don’t believe Harry has spoken to Markle about Brexit or Trump. He’s shown he can’t be trusted, so why discuss something so politically sensitive with a man willing to repeatedly sell out his daughter. Nah.

Because until like three months ago, Thomas hasn't spoken to the media. I mean I know we all like to jump on instincts and slam the man. But he did remain silent for a long time even when they stalked his home. And it's not as if Harry went into in-depth conversation about it. It sounded like a passing comment to an upset man.

[Jacknch]

Please note that posts making specific statements in respect of the current US President that could lead to political arguments within the thread have been edited/removed. We can discuss Harry's comments in context but nothing further. Thank you.

[AlowVera]

Absolutely no way Harry would have politically charged conversations with a man who he has yet to meet. First he went to TMZ, next he seeks out Piers to further embarrass.

[cepe]

I think that IF Harry said what Pa Markle has repeated it is not controversial. It is a neutral response as both results the outcome of a public vote.

HE would have been in serious trouble if he had come down as directly positive/negative on either issue.

We don't know if the words use by Markle were actually the words spoken by Harry either.

[TLLK]

Originally Posted by loonytick

He may have the right to talk to whomever he likes, but in choosing to exercise that right in this way he’s shown his daughter and son in law that he can’t be trusted.

Just because you can do a thing doesn’t mean you should.

Good point loonytick. Sadly I believe that Tom Sr.'s past and current actions are going to eventually affect his relationship with his youngest child and her husband. Now had the very private and discreet Doria Ragland been the one to speak to GMB, then I believe that she would have only done so with the blessing of the Sussexes and I'd have a very different feeling toward her participation.

[jacqui24]

Originally Posted by cepe

I think that IF Harry said what Pa Markle has repeated it is not controversial. It is a neutral response as both results the outcome of a public vote.

HE would have been in serious trouble if he had come down as directly positive/negative on either issue.

We don't know if the words use by Markle were actually the words spoken by Harry either.

Agreed. You just said much better than what I tried to say earlier. There is nothing controversial about it. But of course, the press will make mountains out of mole hill.

[Dman]

Originally Posted by AlowVera

He says that Meghan cried over him not being there, but during that time he was calling up TMZ giving them a play by play of his heart issues. WHO DOES THAT!! there are no excuses for this man. Why would he gaslight his own daughter when his name was on the program.

He also said that Harry offered help on the ground but he refused! and yet they want to blame Harry and Meghan for this?

If they don't tell him all their plans its because he spills to his children, who then sell the information to the press.

You do realize that I’m not making any excuses for Mr. Markle, right?

I’m just stating that everyone pretty much failed to understand the extent of the fraught relationship Meghan have with her family. No one (that I know of) is blaming Meghan and Harry. There’s just a lot of personal breakdown within the Markle family. That’s what we’ve been seeing for months. This is why Harry made that comment that Meghan now have the family she never had. She have her mother, Harry and the rest the royal family. She loves her father, but their relationship is not on the best footing, sadly.

[ACO]

Originally Posted by jacqui24

Harry did whatever his training taught him, which is to remain neutral on politics despite what their personal hope for the result would be on specific issues or policies. Once it’s decided, the royals DO support the work the politicians needs them to do. What do we think all the soft diplomacy tour is about or rolling out the BRF at CHOGM. They don’t discuss policies, but they are certainly there to make things easier for those that do discuss them. Members of the BRF didn’t take an opinion on if Brexit should or shouldn’t happen. But once it did happen, they are working to support the government on their transition during this time.

Exactly as a few royal reporters have pointed out. He said the company line.

"Richard Palmer: It’s not ideal for royals to be caught discussing politics but if he had agreed with Mr Markle on Trump and said anything negative about Brexit it would have been more damaging."

Thomas Markle flat out said he opened the conversation saying he was upset about Trump and all Harry said was that neutral statement but then said he thinks Harry probably has changed his mind since then. He is ridiculous. He is also the one who brought politics into the conversation. It seemed very deliberate with his "That is his, not mine" comment.

Piers on This Morning spoke of how Thomas Markle contacted them to tell his side of the story, ala TMZ. So he is constantly seeking out the media despite knowing how much Meghan and Harry don't want him to. He is more concerned about how the public views him than his relationship with his child.

[Curbside]

Actually, there were some of Meghan's family at the wedding. I'm pretty sure it was a couple people on Doria's side.

[Purrs]

Thomas Markle has terrible judgement, why can't follow his ex-wife's example and remain silent (as he's been asked to do)? Nothing positive will come out of this interview. This is not how you mend a relationship. As a parent, he should be putting his daughter's needs ahead of his own. (I expect his other children will get more press coverage again in response to this interview). If I were Meghan, I'd be so embarrassed and upset with him.

[wyevale]

Certainly he's NOT a man to be trusted, and altho' the Duchess is [understandably] not likely to sever all links, I think the Duke will be very unlikely to form much of a bond with his Father-in-law, if ANY at all...
Harry & William know are all too familiar with the untrustworthy, and they freeze them out accordingly.That won't be necessary in Markle's case.. it is enough just to form NO close bond.

[AlowVera]

Originally Posted by cepe

I think that IF Harry said what Pa Markle has repeated it is not controversial. It is a neutral response as both results the outcome of a public vote.

HE would have been in serious trouble if he had come down as directly positive/negative on either issue.

We don't know if the words use by Markle were actually the words spoken by Harry either.

Its not about what he said, its how it can be spun. Piers knows that, Tom knows that, the media knows that.

Hopefully the information cycle is ridiculously short.

[Rudolph]

Harry must have almost choked on his breakfast this morning. Um, hun, there’s someone on GMB I think you should see