'Why don't you get out of here?' Four men confront Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his wife in Kentucky restaurant - with one slamming his fist on their table and throwing their food
'We're not going to let them go out and do weapons while we're not allowed to': Trump pulls the US out of landmark missile treaty with Russia because Moscow has 'violated the agreement'
Remains of OVER 60 dead infants are discovered at second Detroit funeral home shut down over 'heinous conditions and negligent conduct'
'The United States must not be complicit in this cover-up': Furious senators, including Trump ally Lindsey Graham, hit out at President for accepting Saudi story
Not exercising 'is worse for your health than smoking, diabetes and heart disease'
Mega Millions jackpot soars to WORLD RECORD $1.6BILLION after NO ONE bagged Friday's jackpot with winning numbers 15 23 53 65 70; Mega Ball 7
'We're close to finding the body': Turkey scours forest for remains of murdered Saudi journalist as new CCTV footage emerges
'We will never allow a cover-up': Turkey's ruling party will soon reveal its evidence into Jamal Khashoggi's death as Saudi Arabia finally admits journalist died 'after a fight at its consulate'
Newly-released Jamal Khashoggi interview reveals his worries over Crown Prince's 'thuggish' aides as Saudi Arabia finally admits he died in their consulate
No wonder they call him Little Saddam: MICHAEL BURLEIGH says Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Bin Salman is an unstable despot whose bloodlust threatens the entire Middle East
White House blasts Texas congressman for 'slanderous lie' as he calls for investigation into whether Jared Kushner shared intelligence with Saudis that led to killing of Jamal Khashoggi
Meghan's father: 'When I heard her baby news on the radio, the first thing I thought about was holding her in my arms as a newborn'
Botox cuts women's chances of an orgasm by making it harder for them to communicate their enjoyment of sex
'These nicknames make dangerous people seem cute': Twitter blasts using nicknames such as Permit Patty and BBQ Becky because it 'shields racist white women from the consequences they should face for putting black lives in danger'
'Our father's health can't bear this isolation': Meghan's sister Samantha pleads in letter for a reconciliation
'I thank Allah that I have returned home safely': Africa's 'youngest billionaire' worth $1.5 billion freed after being held hostage for nine days by armed gunman
Men who are classed as infertile could become fathers thanks to pioneering new procedure that gives you a 1 in 5 chance of conceiving a baby
'My birth certificate says I'm female': Trans cyclist defends her world championship win after 3rd place competitor lashed out and said 'it's definitely NOT fair'
Mother of missing Wisconsin 13-year-old Jayme Closs was the 'family angel' relatives say as cops hunt for the teen who now tops the FBI's kidnapped and missing persons list
Alaska's Independent Governor suspends his reelection campaign just three days after his trusted Lieutenant resigns for making 'inappropriate comments' towards women
'Chuck & Nancy, call me!' Trump blames 'obstructionist' Democrats for Honduras caravan fiasco and says if they 'come together, we could agree to new immigration laws in less than one hour', as migrants are pictured bathing at Mexican border
'This is a moment of crisis': White House leans on Mexico to shut down migrant caravan as thousands set up camp at Guatemalan border in overnight standoff and wail 'we are hungry!'
Guatemalan president boasts about catching 100 ISIS operatives as his country lays in turmoil amid thousands fleeing towards the US border
Mega Millions mania: Players console themselves with hilarious memes as jackpot soars to an enormous $1.6BILLION after no one took home Friday's prize

'Our father's health can't bear this isolation': Meghan's sister Samantha pleads in letter for a reconciliation

By Caroline Graham for The Mail on Sunday

Published: 17:05 EDT, 20 October 2018 | Updated: 18:18 EDT, 20 October 2018

e-mail

464

View
comments

Meghan Markle’s half-sister has revealed that the letter she hand-delivered to Kensington Palace begs the Duchess of Sussex to reconcile with their ailing father ‘before it’s too late’.

In the letter, Samantha Markle admits that the family has said some unfavourable things ‘clumsily’, but she adds that she believes the Duchess is ‘gracious and compassionate enough to do the right thing’.

Samantha 53, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and is in a wheelchair, delivered the letter to a gatekeeper at Kensington Palace two weeks ago during a trip to the UK.

Samantha Markle Visits Kensington Palace to hand a letter over to her half sister, Meghan Markle

The photograph of her handing it over was published in newspapers and magazines around the world but the contents of the letter were not known – until now.

Addressed to ‘Dear Duchess Meghan’, the emotional two-page letter in elegant script implores Meghan to heal the rift with their father Thomas, 74, who has had two heart attacks and is in poor health.

Samantha was born to Thomas’s first wife Rosalyn. However, she lived with her father, Meghan and Meghan’s mother Doria – Thomas’s second wife – during her teenage years in the Los Angeles suburb of Woodland Hills.

What is most critical here, is the fact that Dad suffered a real heart attack, not just once but twice

Revealing the contents of the letter exclusively to The Mail on Sunday last night, Samantha explained: ‘I know Meghan and I know she has a kind heart.

‘Her rift with our father makes no sense at all.

‘The Palace spin doctors have put out that Meghan feels she can’t trust Dad because of all the stories that have been written about him but Meghan should know better.

‘Because of my illness, my hands don’t work so I wrote the letter on my computer in an elegant script. Meghan is into calligraphy and I wanted to send her something beautiful and from the heart.

A photograph posted on Twitter by Meghan's half sister Samantha (left) shows them in happier times

‘Now that she is about to become a parent herself I was hoping this letter would cut through all the misconception and explain to her the hurt and isolation the family felt.’

The letter implores Meghan not to believe reports suggesting Thomas faked having a heart attack to avoid walking his daughter down the aisle because he was embarrassed about colluding with paparazzi pictures before the wedding.

Samantha writes: ‘What is most critical here is the fact that Dad suffered a real heart attack, not just once but twice, as a result of the stress from all of the misperception, the breakdown in communication with you and his being forced to be reclusive and inactive to avoid the limelight.

I know he loves you very much and has made several attempts to reach out to you... I don't believe that his health can bear this isolation on a continual basis

‘His attempt to avoid the tension created just the opposite… he loves you very much and has made several attempts to reach out to you both privately and publicly at his fragile age of 74.

‘I don’t believe that his health can bear this isolation on a continual basis. He has been loving and self-sacrificing to you over your whole life, even raising you on his own for a significantly large part of it.’

The letter criticises the way Mr Markle was left to fend for himself at his home in Mexico when news of Meghan’s relationship and subsequent engagement to Prince Harry became public.

While Meghan’s mother Doria was given support – at one point representatives from the British Consulate in LA were photographed visiting her house – Samantha says their father was ‘hung out to dry’ and given no guidance, security protection or advice on how to deal with the ‘deluge’ of attention.

You know you were not raised as an only child... and this family is and always was supportive of you even though we have said some unfavorable things clumsily...

‘He should have been able to speak directly with his daughter,’ she writes, while imploring her sister to have ‘a broader understanding of these very unique circumstances’.

‘You have been wished well and supported (by us) from afar throughout all of this, even though we expressed frustration at times. And so much did not make sense.’

The letter continues: ‘You know you were not raised as an only child, contrary to public attempts at painting the picture this way, and this family is and always was supportive of you, even though we have said some unfavorable things clumsily, out of self-defense and hurt feelings… and only as a last resort.

Pictured is Meghan Markle aged 11 (left) with L-R Tyler Dooley, Thomas Markle Sr, Thomas Dooley, Samantha Markle

Meanwhile Meghan, Britain's Duchess of Sussex, visits Macarthur Girls High School in Sydney, Australia

‘All of this came about upon our family quite suddenly, as you know. I want nothing from you, but your continued happiness, and the happiness of Dad. He loves you very much, and I only ask that you reach out to him before it is too late.

‘I know that he wants to be there for you, without the media and water under the bridge as an unnecessary barrier.

‘I believe that in your heart you understand that what I’m saying is true. I also believe that you are gracious and compassionate enough to do the right thing and engage in peaceful resolve as none of this was ever intended [to be] hurtful and could have been prevented early on by effective communication and understanding within the entire family.’

Samantha ends the letter by saying: ‘I do not require a response to this letter but please communicate with Dad.’