Who is Samantha Markle? A look back at her most controversial moments ahead of the Royal wedding
From the moment Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s romance was confirmed, one family member has continually hit the headlines over controversial comments.
Samantha Markle, who is also known by the name Samantha Grant, is the former Suits actress’ half-sister and has been the most vocal member of the Markle family to date.
She has spoken about her sibling to the press and on television shows including TLC’s special, When Harry Met Meghan: A Royal Engagement.
Samantha most recently took the blame for her 73-year-old father Thomas Markle’s staged photos with the press just days before the royal wedding on May 19.
She claimed to have suggested he do “positive photos for his benefit and the benefit of the royal family”.
She added in the tweet: “We had no idea he would be taken advantage of.”
Background
Samantha and Meghan have the same father, Thomas, who is a retired lighting director and is walking his youngest daughter down the aisle at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle this weekend.
He was previously married to Roslyn, whom he has two children with, Samantha and Thomas Markle Jr.
He went on to marry yoga instructor and social worker Doria Ragland, whom he had Meghan with. The couple divorced in 1988 when she was six years old.
Samantha, who has claimed to have raised Meghan for 12 years when she was growing up in California, is a former actress and model.
She is 53 and currently lives in Miami, Florida, with her partner, and has three children.
Samantha was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2008 and is now wheelchair bound. It was previously reported that she and Meghan lost contact at around this time and have since been estranged.
Controversial comments
Samantha amassed global attention for publicly criticising Meghan after her romance with Prince Harry was revealed in November 2016.
She dubbed her “narcissistic and selfish” and claimed she always wanted to be a princess.
She said: "The Royal Family would be appalled by what she's done to her own family. The truth would kill her relationship with Prince Harry, he wouldn't want to date her anymore because it puts her in a bad public light. I certainly don't think Harry or his family would want to associate with her afterwards.”
Samantha also told The Sun that her sibling had a penchant for redheaded men.
She told the newspaper: “Hollywood has changed her. I think her ambition is to become a princess. It was something she dreamed of as a girl when we watched the royals on TV. She always preferred Harry — she has a soft spot for gingers."
She also told the British newspaper that Meghan was a "social-climber".
The Diary of Princess Pushy’s Sister
Samantha announced in April 2017 that she was planning to release a tell-all book about Meghan, detailing the royal ambitions of Prince Harry’s bride.
“My book deals with my bi-racial family in a candid, warm, personal and socially important way,” she told the Daily Star.
“Maybe when Meghan is more mature and reads the book she’ll understand. Some of it she won’t like, some of it she might.”
Television appearances
Samantha appeared to backtrack her previous comments by dismissing the rumoured rift on Good Morning Britain in October 2017, describing her sister as “lovely.”
After Harry and Meghan’s engagement announcement in 2017, she went on GMB again and declared her love for Meghan.
She said: “I just want to say I love you, I’m incredibly happy for you. Cheers and to a wonderful life.
“If I had a glass of champagne I would toast, but it’s three in the morning and we don’t drink at three in the morning!"
During an appearance on TLC’s When Harry Met Meghan: A Royal Engagement, she said: "The tabloids wanted to create this African-American, rags-to-riches Cinderella story, which is so far from reality."
Family feud
Samantha has implied that Meghan could be doing more to financially help their father, who declared himself bankrupt and lives in Mexico on a small income.
She told Nine News Australia: "Honestly, what she could spend in a weekend would greatly help dad.
"So, that should be a priority. If you can afford $75,000 for a dress, you can afford $75,000 to help your dad."
Samantha said that family members were racist towards Meghan, who is African-American, stating: “There were a couple of family members from older generations who were not evolved and made pretty horrible comments when my sister was born.”
Royal wedding
Although Samantha did not receive an official invite to her sister’s wedding, she is making the 4,400 mile journey across the pond to be at Windsor Castle on the day.
A news organisation is reportedly paying her to be in Windsor for the wedding.
