'YOU LITTLE VULTURE!'
Piers Morgan attacks Meghan Markle’s sister Samantha for ‘trashing’ star days before Royal Wedding
PIERS Morgan today accused Meghan Markle's half-sister of being a media "vulture" in an extraordinary blast on Good Morning Britain.
Samantha Markle appeared on the show after her dad Thomas pulled out of walking his daughter Meghan down the aisle as it was revealed he had staged photographs with the paparazzi.
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Samantha, 53, claimed the media was to blame for her dad's decision, saying the 73-year-old had been put under huge amounts of stress in the lead up to the big day at St George's Chapel.
Speaking with Piers Morgan and co-host Susanna Reid, Samantha said: "I think he had the right to defend himself and get to the point where he wanted to say no - they have an ethical obligation to allow me to be portrayed as I am, living a healthy lifestyle and not be caught in unflattering situations as media vultures had done."
But Piers immediately jumped in, saying: "There's no bigger media vulture with this wedding than you, is there Ms Markle?"
Piers' rant comes despite Meghan's extended family, including her nephews and sister-in-law, yesterday flying into the UK to act as special correspondents for GMB's special coverage of the wedding - which they haven't been invited to.
What we know so far...
- Meghan Markle's dad Thomas wants to attend the royal wedding - but doctors might not let him
- He'd earlier said he wouldn't be attending for fear of embarrassing Meghan and the royal family over staged paparazzi photos
- The 73-year-old, who'd also suffered a heart scare, had backed Meghan's mum Doria Ragland to give her away instead after he pulled out
- Prince Harry was said to blame himself for the upset just days before the wedding
- But despite the chaos Kensington Palace sources said the wedding would still go ahead
- Piers Morgan slammed Meghan's half-sister Samantha, saying she had been a media "vulture", after she appeared on GMB to defend her dad
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But in this morning's extraordinary blast, Piers said: "How you can have the gall to come on here and talk about media vultures. You wrote a book called The Diary of Princess Pushy's Sister.
"You've been trashing her for two years, you little vulture."
He pointed out that the sisters had not spoken for years, challenging her to reveal how much she had made in speaking to the press about her soon-to-be royal sister.
But Samantha, who said that she hoped her father would be attending the royal wedding this Saturday after suffering a heart attack, said she had been "honest and fair" about her relative.
Meghan Markle's half-sister Samantha Markle still hopeful dad Thomas can make daughter's wedding after 'heart attack'
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Thomas Markle today told that he had been "popping Valium" to deal with the pain - adding: "especially when I hear about my oldest daughter (Samantha)".
Ms Markle has previously claimed that staged photographs of her father sold to news outlets around the world in the run-up to the wedding were her idea and an attempt to change Thomas' public image, telling ITV's Loose Women: "I'm entirely the culprit. I said to him to show the world 'I'm getting in shape and getting healthy' so I suggested it to benefit him and the Royal family'."
She said that the paparazzi photos were not money-motivated and any payment would have been a "pittance".
Meghan has reportedly been pleading with her dad to change his mind and walk her down the aisle on Saturday, but has not been able to speak to Thomas since he made the last-minute decision to no longer attend the nuptials.
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A source told The Sun: “Meghan is devastated and wants her father to be there.
“They’re trying to work this out so he will come after all.”
Ladbrokes has since put it at 4/6 odds that Meghan's mum Doria will be by her side when she walks down the aisle, while Prince Charles is tipped at 2/1.
The Duke of Cambridge has also been tipped to step up to the plate, with 5/1 odds of walking Meghan down the aisle, while there have been a flurry of bets predicting the US actress would walk down the aisle alone.
Thomas said he suffered a heart attack six days ago, telling TMZ that he believed the US actress' mum Doria, 61, would be a "good choice" to walk her down the aisle.
The yoga instructor, who has already met Prince Harry, is described as a "free spirited clinical therapist" who has been by her daughter's side for a number of events.
She reportedly recently left her job at a mental health facility in Los Angeles, with it unclear what why she made the career change.
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Last night it was revealed Thomas was going to check back into hospital after suffering more chest pains, having admitted that he had been paid to pose for staged paparazzi pictures.
He said he did not want to embarrass either his daughter or the Royals in the wake of his confession.
His no-show revelation which came just four days before the wedding at Windsor’s St George’s Chapel, caught the Palace completely by surprise — throwing its plans into chaos.
Kensington Palace said last night: “This is a deeply personal moment for Ms Markle in the days before her wedding.
“She and Prince Harry ask again for understanding and respect to be extended to Mr Markle in this difficult situation.”
But wedding preparations are going on regardless, with flowers today arriving at royal wedding floral designer Philippa Craddock's London store today.
The pink and white blooms are expected to decorate the chapel where Harry and Meghan will tie the knot.
A pal of the Prince's told : "The couple have been doing everything they can to help him.
Samantha Grant, Meghan Markle's half-sister, admits that she was the one who advised her father Thomas Markle Sr. to take part in staged pictures on Loose Women
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"This is not what she wants. She obviously wants her dad there. And the idea of contemplating him not being there now is not something that she wants to have to do.
"He [Harry] is devastated. He feels like this is another thing in the wake of him... the problems he causes. He feels that anyone who gets associated with his life - this is the price they have to pay.
"He wants to protect her and this is really difficult for him to swallow."
Son Thomas Jr, 51, told : “Meg will be frantic, she’ll want to know how he is. I’m deeply concerned about him.
"As much as he was dreading all eyes being on him he will not want to cause any embarrassment or deflect attention away from Meghan and Harry’s day.
“He’ll be devastated not to be going but also relieved.”
If Meghan walks down the aisle with her mum by her side, it won't be the first time that members of the royal family have been given away by the matriarch of the family.
Queen Victoria walked her youngest child, Princess Beatrice, down the aisle at St Mildred's Church, Whippingham, in 1885.
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Thomas, who lives in Rosarito, Mexico, was supposed to be flying to London this week to meet the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Camilla, Wills and Kate at a lunch ahead of the ceremony.
If Thomas does not turn up, Doria will be the bride’s only immediate relative at Saturday’s wedding.
But Tracey Dooley, estranged wife of Meghan’s brother Thomas Jr, is already in London with her two sons despite not having an invite with the trio set to appear on Good Morning Britain as part of the show's wedding coverage.
Piers Morgan says he'll walk Meghan Markle down the aisle as her father reportedly pulls out
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