Meghan Markle’s sister Samantha fears dad Thomas could ‘die of sadness’ over royal rift
MEGHAN Markle’s sister says she fears her father, Thomas Markle, will “die of sadness” if his daughter refuses to get in touch.
Samantha Grant claims the royal family has adopted a “code of silence” towards her father and she begged Meghan, believed to be heading to her native US for an unofficial visit next month, to get in touch.
The 53-year-old told the there has been a marked decline in Thomas’s health since the row over staged paparazzi shots in the run up to Harry and Meghan’s wedding in May.
He was unable to give his daughter away because of a heart operation in the week of the wedding.
Samantha said: “I’m desperate for Meghan to meet up with Dad when she’s back. If she doesn’t it would be really cruel and hurtful and would break his heart.
“He’s very sensitive and I see his health suffering as a result of this. I hope they can meet in a quiet place, spend some quality time together and gain closure on what’s been an incredibly sad time for him.
“If they don’t I’m worried he’ll die of sadness. I just want her to get in touch before it’s too late. Life’s short – neither of them deserves to be left with the consequences.”
Samantha claims Meghan, her half-sister, has not spoken to Thomas since he publicly talked about her and Prince Harry in a British TV interview and that she has also cut ties with Samantha and half-brother Thomas Jr, 51.
Samantha said her 74-year-old dad was thinking of travelling to the UK from his home in Rosita, Mexico, in a bid to see Meghan.
Meghan is thought to be heading to US to see friends and family after celebrating her 37th birthday on Saturday.
August is traditionally the month when all royals take their holidays.
Ex-Hollywood lighting director Thomas suffered his first heart attack six years ago and is still recovering from the emergency heart surgery that made him unfit to attend the wedding.
Mum-of-one Samantha said Thomas had made incredible sacrifices for Meghan, including forking out £190,000 for her private education.
She said: “Meghan needs to remember her roots – even though she’s a Windsor now, she is and always will be a Markle too.
“Dad’s done everything for Meg. He was the best dad in the world and without him she would never have achieved what she has.
“He deserves respect, not to be ignored. You don’t just throw a family away like a pair of shoes.”
Samantha believes that Meghan has adopted the royal “code of silence” used against anyone who publicly criticises the family.
She said: “I don’t want to believe the royals themselves would tell Meghan not to speak to Dad, but Dad can no longer contact her on her phone number and Palace officials don’t reply to his texts.”
Thomas raised the temperature of the row himself when he claimed Princess Diana would have 'loathed' the way he had been treated by the palace.
Samantha also blamed Harry for not speaking out in support of her father and said she felt there was a “cruel” agenda that was cutting Meghan off from her family.
Samantha insisted Thomas was not chasing huge payouts when he took part in the paparazzi pictures and says he is hurt that the newlywed couple believe that.
She argued that he has a good pension from his former work in Hollywood, when he earned £190,000 a year.
And she revealed he had turned down to £75,000 to do a live interview at the same time as the pictures – for which he was paid £1,100.
She said: “It’s like he’s being pushed out of their lives, I think any father would feel upset by that. Meg is putting on a cordial face but I know this situation will be hurting her too.”
Samantha also revealed that she had renamed the book she has written about her half-sister, originally titled Pushy Princess.
It will now be called In The Shadow Of A Duchess and is not, she insists, a “character assassination” of her half-sister.
She added that she still loves Meghan and that the last conversation they had, in 2005, ended with Meghan saying “I love you.”
Samantha said she still hopes to reconcile with her sister and to give her the wedding gift she bought – a glass musical box with a bride and groom dancing to Here Comes the Bride which she personalised so that the groom’s hair was ginger.
She said the whole family wanted to be there for Meghan and Harry and their future children.
She added: “We’re a loving family that want to know them and be in their lives.”
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Kensington Palace did not comment.
Thomas Markle has previously spoken out, terrified that he'll "never see his daughter again".
Meghan's brother, Thomas Markle Jr was arrested last year for holding a pistol to his ex's head..