The Duchess of Sussex: Family and Background

[XeniaCasaraghi]

Terri all your points are valid and I take responsibility for starting this conversation all over again. I was just so angry about reading what the Markle's were doing that I had to vent. I sometimes fear Meghan and/or Harry will think this drama is not worth it and throw in the towel (I'm pessimistic, forgive me).

[jacqui24]

Originally Posted by XeniaCasaraghi

Terri all your points are valid and I take responsibility for starting this conversation all over again. I was just so angry about reading what the Markle's were doing that I had to vent. I sometimes fear Meghan and/or Harry will think this drama is not worth it and throw in the towel (I'm pessimistic, forgive me).

I think we can all understand the anger regarding this situation here.

[thissal]

Originally Posted by Osipi

You can't make this Markle stuff up. Somewhere, there's a producer that just may get the idea from these people for a new, revised situation comedy that has it roots in the old "Beveryly Hillbillies" sitcom. Revise it as "London Loonies" or something similar. Even A&E's "The Royals" is tamer than this family.

God forbid anyone make light of the actions of these 3 Markles. [...] maybe 2 of them at least by proxy, and their inspiration is plainly evil.
I feel so sorry for Meghan since she has probably put up with something similar to this since she was born. This kind of abuse doesn’t suddenly start in a vacuum. I remember a picture of Meghan and Samantha probably at the latter graduation from something. Meghan was leaning in towards Sam who was pulling away. It’s all really sick.

At first, I was curious and read several articles about their behavior until I got the idea loud and clear. I’m no longer interested in hearing about anything they say or seeing their pictures. It will only be more of the same.

My only curiosity now is why the media continues to give them an inch of space? I find it hard to believe they are still click bait, since most people aren’t that easily fooled. I suspect the media may have an agenda, one that needs to be somewhat disguised.

[Osipi]

One thing at least is that here, in this thread, we can discuss the antics of the Markle family in a calm, rational manner. We're here actually because we care about Harry and Meghan, their lives and their accomplishments and goals. Its what we do.

We can see day to day how this estranged (with the emphasis on strange) family seem to have totally lost the respect of not only Harry and Meghan and the royal family, but also how the world is looking at these people which is actually pretty sad but we realize that they are bringing it on themselves.

It gives a humanizing aura that we actively see and can honestly see the need that The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex sees in addressing mental health issues which most definitely would include familial bullying and manipulation and laying on of guilt trips. Meghan, primarily, is experiencing this first hand.

Some of us have been down this road that Meghan is on and some of us find these actions totally new and incomprehensible. All of us though will come out of this experience that we're sharing with Meghan in a way with a better understanding of how negativity, jealousy and envy and being a slave to one's own ego can have detrimental effects on those around us.

[Muhler]

Meghan's half brother Thomas fiancee, Darlene Blount, has according to Daily Mail been arrested and charged with assault after a domestic disturbance at their home.

The incident, which took place Friday, has been confirmed by the police in Josephine County.

It is the second time the police has arrested Darlene Blount.
The last time was on New Years Eve, also on assault charges after a domestic disturbance.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...d-assault.html

- The Markle family is almost becoming a parody of themselves! A family from hell!

[Kataryn]

At least we know understand why Markle sr. was afraid Harry might hurt Meghan - his other children chose partners who did this...

[Osipi]

Even the best soap opera writers in Hollywood couldn't make this stuff up.

This isn't something new for Tom, Jr. and his fiancee, Darlene. It seems to be a reoccurring theme in their relationship and neither one of them has the strength of character to make changes. It also leads me to think that Tom, Jr.'s outlandish rantings and ravings about his half sister has more behind them than just a quest for attention or ego stroking. The pattern of being horrid and nasty and then immediately following it is the apologies with crocodile tears leads me to believe there are other issues at work here.

And the saga continues.......

[AlowVera]

Best decision made was not to invite the halfings. Imagine if they where invited that would give them some legitimacy. With the estrangement well establish it seems the UK media are reaching inorder to tie M to these people.

[Osipi]

From all the coverage I've seen, even the UK media isn't trying to connect Meghan to these e(strange)d (got tired of typing out the full description) people but rather are pinpointing exactly why Meghan has distanced herself from these e(strange)d relatives.

Tom, Sr. perhaps is on the cusp of there being an open question of whether Meghan and her father can reconcile their differences because Meghan did seem to have some sort of a relationship with her father. The two half siblings and nephews and nieces that have embarrassed themselves openly in the media are portrayed giving valid reasons to just why Meghan has built a wall between herself and her life and these people. Meghan knows them a whole lot better than we do.

I see the rationalizing for posting the article as valid, ongoing credible reasons to validate Meghan's estrangement from these people. Many people still seem to think that Meghan "done wrong" by not inviting them to her wedding. In fact, in the Cosmopolitan article about Tom, Jr's recent antics, there is a poll and a small minority voted that Meghan should get in touch with and support her half brother.

[Marlo]

Daily Fail is trying to taint Meghan's name. Disgusting.

[Osipi]

Originally Posted by Marlo

Daily Fail is trying to taint Meghan's name. Disgusting.

Where? I read the entire article and the only mention of Meghan actually was referring to Darlene Blount as her future half sister-in-law. The rest of the article focuses solely on Tom, Jr. and his fiancee, Darlene and what happened.

[Curryong]

Tom Jnr and his fiancee's violent quarrels seem to be at least partly fuelled by heavy drinking. In one of his early 'apologies' (relating to when he himself was going to be charged with assault) Tom told a tabloid that he was going to seek treatment/rehab for alcoholism. I think they both should. It might also shut down Tom's rantings a bit as well.

[AlowVera]

It is upsetting how the media always tries to blame the women for misdeeds of a man. Why should anyone care for that half sib does with his life. They have no current contact with her life. From now on Meghan is absolved from any relatives bad behavior.

[O-H Anglophile]

Originally Posted by Osipi

The two half siblings and nephews and nieces that have embarrassed themselves openly in the media are portrayed giving valid reasons to just why Meghan has built a wall between herself and her life and these people.

What nieces?--the only nieces I know of are Samantha's daughters--one of whom (Ashleigh) we have not heard a peep from and the other one (Noel) has said very little, and neither have a relationship with their other Markle family members AFAIK.

[Osipi]

You're right. I was speaking in general terms of familial relationships. None of Meghan's nieces have in any way, shape or form, stepped out of line and have acted as mature relatives.

Thanks for the correction.

Originally Posted by AlowVera

It is upsetting how the media always tries to blame the women for misdeeds of a man. Why should anyone care for that half sib does with his life. They have no current contact with her life. From now on Meghan is absolved from any relatives bad behavior.

In this recent episode that comes to light, I think the focus is more on the fact that a woman can be accused and jailed for domestic abuse just as much as a man can. Meghan has not been put to task that I have seen by anybody (disregarding the Daily Fail comment section) when it comes to the antics or bleatings or general misbehavior of her e(strange)d relatives.

Just as the sins of the father shouldn't be visited upon the sons, neither should the misbehavior of e(strange)d relatives be visited upon the Duchess.

[Muhler]

No, Meghan should not, and most rational people will not blame her for what her family is doing.
But her name is now mentioned each time they act up, which is often! Both deliberate and otherwise. - So it does "taint" her, so to speak.

Had an arrest after a domestic dispute happened once, in an otherwise quiet family. It would of course hit the news, but most people would IMO just leave it there. It can happen in any family and Darlene Blount is after all only a fiancee. - But twice. That's a behavioral pattern.
Especially combined with other members of the family doing their very best to make a spectacle of themselves!

So of course that raises the question: If at least half of Meghan's family are "trailer trash", how much have rubbed off on her?
I know, there are loads of arguments against that. But the question will be there in the back of the mind of an increasing number of people, as long as this continues. Combined with a kind of snobbery, for a lack of better word. People expect royals, and those who marry into royal families to have a polished behavior. And someone who comes from a family of boors... (Insert derogatory snort.)
So, regardless of this not having anything to do with Meghan directly, it does indirectly when it continues to pile up.

[Osipi]

This is only my personal opinion and gives a different way of looking at things where its very possible that its is because of Meghan's half siblings that she took at totally different route in life rather than having their influence rub off on her.

Meghan is quite a bit younger than her half siblings and most likely, growing up, she witnessed the onset of behaviors that were to follow Tom, Jr. and Samantha throughout their lives. Not actually living full time each and every day with these people, she also had the stability of a home life with her mother who consistently set a responsible example for her daughter.

So, my opinion is that there isn't a snowball's chance in hell that the behavior traits of the Markle older children rubbed off on Meghan but rather set a shining example of how she would never want to be in her life. They taught her how not to be.

Actions speak louder than words and just by watching Meghan as she grows into her public roles within the royal family is going to show the world that Meghan, herself, is no where near the type of person that her e(strange)d half siblings and even her father are. Like the rest of the world right now, she is finding them all unacceptable due to their behavior and that is how it should be.

There will always be detractors that will snicker and point fingers just because they can. These are the people that comment in the Daily Fail and thrive on their own special brand of negative character traits.

[Muhler]

Indeed.

But it does put additional pressure on Meghan to be super-exemplary in her new position. And that's difficult enough as it is!
It's bad enough when someone in that position makes mistakes, they are after all only human. But when Meghan makes a mistake at some point, a considerable percentage of the public will go: family = trailer trash = Meghan.
Very much helped on by Meghan's dad and not least her sister! I can just see it: Samantha will positively glow with glee and if she could, dance while singing: "I told you so, I told you so..."

There are times, more and more often actually, when I find the sci-fi idea of an off-switch installed in the neck of people a pretty good idea.

[Kataryn]

I had wondered so much why the RF embraced Meghan so much directly after the engagement but now I think Meghan and Harry knre exactly how the Markles would react to the engagement, that the media would give them a platform and Harry's family closed their ranks around Meghan already as a fiancee. From the moment the engagement went public, Meghan was already protected within the fold, including her living in a Royal property with police guards and other security measures. It helped of course that the RF liked Meghan but the outstanding way the BRF made sure that Meghan is now a part of their family was so unusual, it made me wondering. Of course, now it is clear. They wanted to protect Meghan from her own family and made it possible for her to breathe freely. Does someone remember how hunted down Catherine was when she tried to live in London?


As for making missteps? Meghan surely has learned by now all about protocoll and knows how to rely on the staff of the RF. I don't think there will be any major scandals coming from her side.

[Rudolph]

Meghan’s sister says “money makes the world go around”. She was on GMB this morning.

Samantha Markle admits 'cashing in' on Meghan's marriage to Prince Harry | Daily Mail Online