The Duchess of Sussex: Family and Background

[Zaira]

If Samantha went to the University of Pennsylvania, there is no reason for her to be spiteful about Meghan having gone to Northwestern. Interesting.

Sam went to Penn? Hmm, imma call BS on that...anyone have a source? I always heard she didn't go to college and went into modeling...

 

[Pranter]

If Samantha went to the University of Pennsylvania, there is no reason for her to be spiteful about Meghan having gone to Northwestern. Interesting. She was certainly not deprived of an expensive education at a name school.

Samantha could of gone most anywhere she wanted to go that her grades would of allowed her in....like many people in the U.S. There are tons of scholarships, grants (gifts not needing repaid) and student loans. So she has 0 reason to say anything even if Meghan had gone to Harvard.


LaRae

 

[O-H Anglophile]

Samantha could of gone most anywhere she wanted to go that her grades would of allowed her in....like many people in the U.S. There are tons of scholarships, grants (gifts not needing repaid) and student loans. So she has 0 reason to say anything even if Meghan had gone to Harvard.


LaRae

Yeah, if she wanted to pay with loans and be in tremendous debt for years--but scholarships and grants are not that plentiful. But if her father paid for her education like he supposedly did Meghan's--at a name school that is expensive, they had equal opportunities and she can't pretend she was deprived.

 

[Princess of Durham]

Given Sanmatha's age she may very well have had other sources at her disposal for school. The issue of huge college loans were not so much an issue at the time she went to school.

 

[jacqui24]

Had Samantha gone to an Ivy League school, she would’ve put that all over the place. On the other hand, does it matter where she went to school? She obviously didn’t do much with it.

 

[Lady Nimue]

I personally think Mr Markle Sr will be unlikely to have royalty attend his funeral the way things are going. Meghan must be experiencing what her father is doing as a harrowing betrayal. But it also may be that all his demons have suddenly (and unexpectedly) re-emerged.

I am one who thinks the pressure of appearing at the wedding did something to him: either he fell-off-the-wagon or he's gone a bit doddy in the head. Maybe he was an ugly drunk. Maybe he was a nightmare when on drugs. But none of that prepared Meghan for what has eventuated, I think. Poor kid.

I believe the media are trying to sabotage Meghan with these stories. I see in a few years they will treat her as bad as Sarah Ferguson.

It had always struck me as ironic that there is an anti bullying campaign going on yet the media gets away with bullying famous people. They are trying to destroy her and I'm tired of the fact that nobody from the legit media will call these people out.

It's the Gladiator Games on another level: a 'blood sport' to titillate. Very like the serialization of the novels in 19th century newspapers with chapters published every week. Their intentions may be very short-sighted: destruction of said object of focus merely a side 'benefit' (if it occurs).

I certainly do hope that Meghan and Harry are indestructible, and all this has only served to bond them more securely and profoundly. (Someone has mentioned this). Bright spot: true love conquering all.

And yes, the Royals will at some point have had their fill of the ongoing defamation antics. I do believe they’re simply bidding their time...

What are they biding their time to do, though? Not saying you are wrong, but wondering what they might be 'biding their time' about? If they can do something to stop the circus from expanding, why not do it now, rather than 'biding their time' before they pounce to put an end to it?

I think Ingrid Seward (editor of Majesty Magazine) offers us an alternative opinion on the subject that has foresight about how far this story would go:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=12097494

Very flawed thinking in this article. (A lot of bad 'facts'). Besides which what Meghan did or didn't do, or does or doesn't do, now or into the future, is no one's business, least of all a journalist's. JMO.

All the above said (and I do wish the best for them) I do think that there is a possibility that there will come a day when the stars are no longer aligned and the 7-year itch ensues. How will Harry and Meghan manage it? Meghan may take the opportunity to get free of royal life and bolt. Harry may go into purdah, foreswearing public life for good. Dunno. For now they are weathering it. But if there are ever challenges in the marriage I could see all this adding pepper to the pot, to an already spicy stew. We will see. Stay strong, Meghan and Harry!

 

[American Observer7]

I don't care about Samantha Grant. Thomas Markle Sr. is still running his mouth and giving interviews. I think he is trying to force Harry and Meghan into taking to him by giving these interviews.

Why does he not get that Meghan won't talk to him because he gave an interview without their ok, was paid for it, and he revealed a personal conversation between he and Harry and to top it all of he is still talking to the press. Meghan doesn't trust her father any longer and I can't blame her.

Meghan is ignoring all of them as she should!

 

[Lady Nimue]

I don't care about Samantha Grant. Thomas Markle Sr. is still running his mouth and giving interviews. I think he is trying to force Harry and Meghan into talking to him by giving these interviews.

Why does he not get that Meghan won't talk to him because he gave an interview without their ok, was paid for it, and he revealed a personal conversation between he and Harry and to top it all of he is still talking to the press. Meghan doesn't trust her father any longer and I can't blame her.

Meghan is ignoring all of them as she should!

He doesn't 'get it' because he is either drunk or fuddled. Simple as that. No logic. IMO.

 

[pooky929]

If Samantha went to the University of Pennsylvania, there is no reason for her to be spiteful about Meghan having gone to Northwestern. Interesting. She was certainly not deprived of an expensive education at a name school if this is true.

Samantha later,after being diagnosed with MS, went back to school and graduated with a PHD in psychology ,secondary in criminology. There is
a photo of her in cap & gown sitting in wheelchair with Meghan standing
next to her..Meghan and Tom Sr attended her graduation,yet she told the
media back in 2016 that Meghan never saw her in a wheelchair because
she was ashamed of her. That photo paints a very different picture as well
as the body language in the photograph. Mystery as to who leaked that photo .
was it Tom Sr or Noel. Noel is sitting on other side of Samantha but was edited
out of picture,,you can see her little arms.

 

[jacqui24]

https://www.news.com.au/entertainme...e/news-story/67b4e7c962b874559303ee0d05528c93

Yet despite what commentators are suggesting, it’s not Meghan who has turned her back on her dad. Rather, he has betrayed her not once, but time and time again as she tries to build a life with the man she loves.

A parent is always a parent, and so it’s incumbent on Markle to step up and be a dignified and protective father — not a headline-seeking traitor to the daughter he professes to adore.

He may be a “lonely and vulnerable” man as some are claiming but, at 74, he has sufficient wisdom to know that loyalty and love is what Meghan most needs right now.

 

[ACO]

Samantha later,after being diagnosed with MS, went back to school and graduated with a PHD in psychology ,secondary in criminology. There is
a photo of her in cap & gown sitting in wheelchair with Meghan standing
next to her..Meghan and Tom Sr attended her graduation,yet she told the
media back in 2016 that Meghan never saw her in a wheelchair because
she was ashamed of her. That photo paints a very different picture as well
as the body language in the photograph. Mystery as to who leaked that photo .
was it Tom Sr or Noel. Noel is sitting on other side of Samantha but was edited
out of picture,,you can see her little arms.

Where are you getting this info? Serious question. Sam has a motor for a mouth and all this is new to it seems many. If she went to an Ivy League it would be on record and she would be bragging like she does with everything. She didn't. And a PhD? From where? Sam is full of a lot of things but that aint one of them.

 

[M. Payton]

Know how long it takes to get a PhD in anything.......Sam does not have that kind of fortitude to accomplish that task.......so let's have the actual *facts* when, where, cost, university, dates, all signed sealed and delivered here as that is what TRF deals in ....Facts only!

 

[Fros]

If Sam had a PhD. She would insist on being called Dr. Samantha everywhere she appears and it would probably be part of her Twitter bio and Twitter handle.

 

[Cocoasneeze]

Samantha and Mr Markle have clearly publicly joined their forces and are in full on attack mode. We'll Samantha even more than before.

They lack any form of self awareness. Samantha claims, that any humanitarian would understand, but fails to see, how any decent human would stop this one sided public bullying and abuse.

They claim that every single thing is Meghan's fault, she's responsible of fixing everything.

Funny, though, that the tabloids haven't found any dirt at all on Meghan. Nothing scandalous in her past, at all. So they blame her father's drug abuse on her. You really can't make this up.

 

[MsJulie]

In everything I have read about Samantha Markle, I cannot find anything saying she actually graduated from a university. Not sayin she did or did not, but right now I cannot find any article that said Samantha Markle graduated from University XYZ in this field. Only the daily Mail shows one picture.

The Daily Mail picture of the Dutchess and the half sister shows the sister holding a piece of paper....but it is too blurry to read.

The picture of the Dutchess and the half sister Samantha, show Samatha in a grey/silver gown. I called up University of Pennsylvania PHD gowns and that is NOT a gown a PHD candidate would wear. Many universities have the candidates wear a black gown with a collar of the college. Some wear colored gowns but have black velvet stripes on the sleeves along with other parts of the gown in black. The colored parts on the gown designated the college the PHD is from. So IMO th picture we see is not of a PHD candidate.

Is SM has a PHD, I am surprised she is not shouting it to the world and showing off every one he diplomas.

My hubby said PHD actually may mean “pile higher then dirt”....just saying.

 

[jacqui24]

That photo of Meghan and Samantha in cap and gown is for bachlor’s fegree at best. Master’s have a hood, which Samantha didn’t have on. And that was in 2008, so...

 

[Kataryn]

All the above said (and I do wish the best for them) I do think that there is a possibility that there will come a day when the stars are no longer aligned and the 7-year itch ensues. How will Harry and Meghan manage it? Meghan may take the opportunity to get free of royal life and bolt. Harry may go into purdah, foreswearing public life for good. Dunno. For now they are weathering it. But if there are ever challenges in the marriage I could see all this adding pepper to the pot, to an already spicy stew. We will see. Stay strong, Meghan and Harry!

It's interesting to see that when M&H married, each and every astrologer of "name" looked up their birth horoscopes and the horsoscope of their wedding and tried to tell the future from it. I dabbled once with that but while astonishing things could be read and came true, it is very difficult to interpret and next to impossible to interpret without a good knowledge of the people involved. And who knows them good enough??


But one thing was very interesting. They all agreed that there will be hard times for the marriage. Some used that to say it's already doomed - the classic astrologers. But those who work with the idea of Chiron, the aspect of healing, had a more positive outcome.



I say "idea" because analysing a horoscope means interpreting symbols which stand for certain archetypical parts of a person's character and the fields these ideas play off - like the "idea" is the capacity to love, the planet is Venus, the sign Venus stands in shows how a person loves (or not) and the house shows the field: family person or humanitarian eg.



Chiron is an iodea or construct not all astologers agree on. But seeing how this story evolves, I think an important part of M&H's relationship is the fact that both carry old wounds from their childhood and that the whole world is invited to see now Meghan's, just like they saw Harry's during the War of the Waleses and after Diana's death. The astrologers who work with Chiron all agreed that the chance for their marriage lies in the fact that they have a strong connection to each other under stron Chiron aspects. That the healing they can do to each other will be the power to overcome the problems that are said to come up in other fields.



A lot of astrologers think Harry will stray but the way Meghan forgives (or not) will depend on the strenght of their relationship and how emotionally thankful they are to each other for having been there when needed.


Please, take all that with a grain of salt. If telling the future was so easy, we'd all do it.

 

[Lady Nimue]

Funny, though, that the tabloids haven't found any dirt at all on Meghan. Nothing scandalous in her past, at all. So they blame her father's drug abuse on her. You really can't make this up.

Exactly! No scandal. Nothing. Meghan has lived an exemplary life. Even overcoming some considerable obstacles, not just an actively dysfunctional family, but a family that actively meant (and continues to mean) her harm. We cannot underestimate the racial aspect (which makes Mr Markle's betrayal all the more inexplicable and cutting, and leads me to believe he is not in his 'normal' state; we are seeing a break down. JMO).

It's interesting to see that when M&H married, each and every astrologer of "name" looked up their birth horoscopes and the horsoscope of their wedding and tried to tell the future from it. I dabbled once with that but while astonishing things could be read and came true, it is very difficult to interpret and next to impossible to interpret without a good knowledge of the people involved. And who knows them good enough??

But one thing was very interesting. They all agreed that there will be hard times for the marriage. Some used that to say it's already doomed - the classic astrologers. But those who work with the idea of Chiron, the aspect of healing, had a more positive outcome.

Chiron is an idea or construct not all astologers agree on. But seeing how this story evolves, I think an important part of M&H's relationship is the fact that both carry old wounds from their childhood and that the whole world is invited to see now Meghan's, just like they saw Harry's during the War of the Waleses and after Diana's death. The astrologers who work with Chiron all agreed that the chance for their marriage lies in the fact that they have a strong connection to each other under stron Chiron aspects. That the healing they can do to each other will be the power to overcome the problems that are said to come up in other fields.

A lot of astrologers think Harry will stray but the way Meghan forgives (or not) will depend on the strenght of their relationship and how emotionally thankful they are to each other for having been there when needed.

I am aware of the readings, too, Kataryn. Hopefully, Harry matures past all that, though it's possible that Meghan may not mind, or not view it as a deal-breaker. I think it will be difficult for Harry to 'replace' Meghan as she is exceptional on many levels. Watching Harry these days, he is very centered and such men attract women. (Even William is looking good these days, no hair and all! ) Who knows?

But yes, problems coming (and it's right there in the astrology) but what marriage doesn't have that moment when the bloom is off the rose? I think it happens to us all. Just hope the kaboom is not too hard. I fear more for Meghan: how will she be able to reconcile the really inordinate muzzling of her speech as a royal? Truly, since this has been the raison d'être of her humanitarian work. The conflict may come from Meghan rather than Harry. Though for now: bliss!

 

[Osipi]

One thing I can almost guarantee and I don't need my crystal ball for it is that Harry and Meghan will have those times that they look at each other and say "I love you but I don't like you very much right now". Any good marriage has those days. No couple can get along 100% of the time. Marriage takes work, patience, understanding and compromising and sometimes it can seem like its a tug of war. I do think, however, that Harry and Meghan have gone into this marriage with their eyes wide open and are sure that this is what they both want going into the future together. Their courtship was spent basically on a one on one basis at home doing everyday things. They knew they could live together comfortably. I do think they put each other first and that, to me is a good start.

About Sam's education. I agree that she's gotten a few degrees perhaps an Associate Degree or a Bachelors but if she had gotten a doctorate anywhere, she'd be boasting of that in everything she says as "the good doctor that knows these things. The strangest thing I've read that one of the degrees she does have certifies her as a mental health counselor. Its actually Doria that has worked in the mental health profession (and I believe she still does).

There are two kinds of people in this world. Those that see their world as being part of a circle where there is caring and compassion and thought for the other persons in that circle. Then there are people that put themselves in the middle of a circle where they come first and those making up the circle are ones that affect them, are there for their benefit or not depending on what they can do for a person. In other words, have the "me first always" attitudes. Its not rocket science to figure out that Tom, Sr., Sam and Tom Jr. see themselves as separate entities from the people around them whereas people like Doria and Meghan feel more comfortable being part of the circle. This illustrates this concept.

"Man did not weave the web of life. He is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself." - Chief Seattle

 

[carlota]

i find it embarrasing that BBC and ITV had to make a pact to not hire any of the markles for their programmes (unless purely informational like news broadcasts) to avoid the markles from further embarrassing themselves. the fact that some outsider needs to help the BRF because some adults do not know how to behave themselves is just plain embarrassing for meghan, for harry and for the queen. i am not sure how this was all allowed to happen. i knew there would be trouble as soon as the engagement was announced.

 

[Cocoasneeze]

This is only embarrassing for the Markles. Meghan, Harry and the Queen have no reason to be embarrassed, they've done absolutely nothing wrong. The Markles are only humiliating themselves, no one else.

I also don't know how this should've been stopped already. The freedom of press and freedom of speech give the tabloids the right to print these stories, and the Markles to blab as much as possible. It won't do any harm to anyone else but the markles, though.

ETA: BBC and ITV took the stand to not have markles on their reality shows BECAUSE the palace lawyers are doing something. They're working behind the scenes to limit media access to the Markles.

 

[Kataryn]

i am not sure how this was all allowed to happen. i knew there would be trouble as soon as the engagement was announced.

I think there is only so much that the queen and her family can do nowadays. But Harry loves Meghan, he wanted to marry her (not her family) and his family obviously agrees with his choice. But I think they knew exactly what they were getting with the Markles, that's IMHO why Meghan was immediately welcomed into the inner circle and why there was the statement that she has no real family. With today's knowledge, we surely agree -apart from her mother and some decent relatives the closest on her father's side are terrible and should not be considered real kin at all.



Meghan has been such an achiever, but being saddled with a family like this surely was one reason why their courtship was quiet, very private (and Harry loves nightclubs) and short - IMHO as soon as Harry thought she was Miss Right, he wanted her to see with her own eyes how it would be to marry into the Royal family and once she was willing, he married her as fast as he could plus bringing her into the safety of being a member of the RF aslready as his fiancée. They all knew how it would be, IMHO, but still even the only living contrahend of a bad family feud and his long dispised wife opened their arms to her. Talk about a stoic, stiff-upper-lip family with warm hearts and incredible sense of duty.

 

[Osipi]

When I think about how warmly Meghan was brought into the royal family fold, it occurred to me that if there is anyone among them that would know and be able to empathize with Meghan not being in a position to strike back at her e(strange)d family in all their public rantings, it would be Charles. This is a man that was in the same sort of a situation many years ago with a public war in the press and he persevered. In Charles, Meghan may have found a port in storm and a kindred soul to lean on. Now, m'friends, *that* is what family does. ?

 

[Cocoasneeze]

I agree with all what @Osipi said, and this is why I am 100% sure, that no one in the RF, in at least close quarters to Meghan, would feel anything but empathy for her. They all know how the media operates, and how hard it is to fight against it.

I *think* that Meghan has chosen to ride this out the long route, unless lies are told about her, or lies, that would be damaging to her reputation. She won't go tit for that with her father, but has cut him off until foreseeable future, and has left him with the shovel to just dig himself deeper and deeper.

 

[O-H Anglophile]

i find it embarrasing that BBC and ITV had to make a pact to not hire any of the markles for their programmes (unless purely informational like news broadcasts) to avoid the markles from further embarrassing themselves. the fact that some outsider needs to help the BRF because some adults do not know how to behave themselves is just plain embarrassing for meghan, for harry and for the queen. i am not sure how this was all allowed to happen. i knew there would be trouble as soon as the engagement was announced.

The BBC and ITV didn’t decide that for the Markles sake, they decided that policy because it was in their own best business interests to limit their Markle exposure to news.
Those Markles are an embarrassment to themselves, it has nothing to do with Meghan, Harry or the Queen-they’ve done nothing embarrassing in this situation. It’s sad that Meghan doesn’t have a loving paternal family but I don’t think most of that is new to Meghan.

 

[jacqui24]

i find it embarrasing that BBC and ITV had to make a pact to not hire any of the markles for their programmes (unless purely informational like news broadcasts) to avoid the markles from further embarrassing themselves. the fact that some outsider needs to help the BRF because some adults do not know how to behave themselves is just plain embarrassing for meghan, for harry and for the queen. i am not sure how this was all allowed to happen. i knew there would be trouble as soon as the engagement was announced.

ITV and BBC does things out of their own self-interest. These people are so destructive that putting them on would cause backlash and potentially be denied access in the future. Just look at how ITV got access in the first place. It’s not exactly a secret how that works. They are helping themselves. I’m not sure what do you mean by allowed to happen? Everyone is a grow adult, if they want to talk, there is no stopping them.

 

[Tarlita]

The BRF have weathered many storms and scandals in the past. This particular scandalous behaviour from the Markles will just end up as a storm in a teacup. Harry and Meghan will clearly show they can rise above this moving forward with grace, humility, passion for the causes they support and as valued members of the Royal Family and therefore decent representives for Britain.
And I also believe that Meghan will get plenty of chances to give rousing speeches about women's empowerment etc just as Prss Diana did. But it will be done within the context and guidelines of the royal way of doing things.
I see Harry and Meghan forging a very strong marriage together. Because they both have a great Strength of character.
Well that's what My crystal ball says.

 

[Osipi]

What has happened is that because of an upcoming wedding of a very popular member of the British royal family, all eyes were turned on his bride and the world wanted to know everything there is to know about Meghan. Its happened even here. Meghan is a very popular topic of discussion among us even down to how she dresses and how she wears her hair.

This upsurge of interest also drew her e(strange)d family to the forefront and put them in the limelight and starting with Meghan's e(strange)d half sister blasting out vitriol and hatred and doing her best to denigrate Meghan in the public eye, the rest of the Markle family found an outlet to gain their own 15 minutes of fame and even thought they were latching onto some lucrative deals (the Dooleys) just because of being somehow blood related to Meghan.

The wedding has come and gone and the pre wedding mania has basically died down and the world continued spinning on its axis. However, certain members of the Markle family weren't about to give up the limelight quite so easily and the only way to continue to remain there was to up their game, pulling focus on themselves by any means necessary and, IMO, believe that they deserve the spotlights and the attention. As their rantings and ravings got worse and worse and crazier and crazier, the tide started turning against them and people began to see these people for what they really are. Leeches and narcissistic personalities that had very little of real value.

Tabloids that feed on this kind of thing encourage them but those outlets that value the content of what they produce and their standing not only with the British royal family as a whole, but also with the British public are stepping back from exploiting these clowns and choose to give their viewers quality over sensationalist programming.

As I see it, this way, no matter how much and how loud and how obnoxious the bleatings of any Markle will get, it will be geared towards the demographics of the kind of people that thrive on this kind of thing. The Markles will be finding themselves bleating and mooing and cackling to the barnyard filled with people just like themselves. Will they get the message? I sincerely doubt it. Meanwhile, BBC and ITV and media that has the "real" royal reporters will be focusing more on Harry and Meghan's endeavors and real royal news rather than degrading themselves over stories such as did Tom, Sr. smoke pot all those years ago and serialize Samantha's book "In The Shadow of the Duchess".

All this serves to widen the gulf once again between Meghan and her e(strange)d family. Its the difference between responsible journalism and the crap a tabloid puts out.

 

[Mirabel]

What has happened is that because of an upcoming wedding of a very popular member of the British royal family, all eyes were turned on his bride and the world wanted to know everything there is to know about Meghan. Its happened even here. Meghan is a very popular topic of discussion among us even down to how she dresses and how she wears her hair.

Well yes, but don't you think much of that has to do with current circumstances?

Both Kate and Zara have recently given birth and are temporarily out of the picture. Beatrice is not really making headlines either.

So who is there to discuss? Mostly Meghan and Eugenie.


(I'm not saying interest in Meghan is likely to die out; just that there will soon be stories about other royals, and her spotlight may not be so intense).

 

[jacqui24]

Well yes, but don't you think much of that has to do with current circumstances?

Both Kate and Zara have recently given birth and are temporarily out of the picture. Beatrice is not really making headlines either.

So who is there to discuss? Mostly Meghan and Eugenie.


(I'm not saying interest in Meghan is likely to die out; just that there will soon be stories about other royals, and her spotlight may not be so intense).

I don't think it has as much to do with others as it has to do with the drought of royal news with summer break. Usually these things fall off the headlines as soon as Meghan and Harry makes an appearance. But until then, they need something to talk about.