Samantha Markle says sister Meghan Markle racism claims are a 'stretch'

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Bonnie Christian17 January 2020

Samantha Markle has dismissed claims her half-sister Meghan has been subjected to racist media coverage, adding that the suggestions are a “stretch”.

In a wide ranging interview on ITV This Morning on Friday, Ms Markle said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have “quite a bit of apologising to do” over the “incredibly wrong and shocking” treatment of their father, Thomas.

Asked why she thinks Meghan did not enjoy royal life, Ms Markle, speaking from Florida, said: “It appeared outwardly, that she did enjoy it when quote, there was the fab four...It was all seemingly great and wonderful then.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex: Prince Harry & Meghan Markle

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She added that, after the duchess began to be criticised for “expenditures and protocols that had been broken”, Meghan “flipped the script”.

“Quite shocking and hurtful that the issue of racism would ever come out, because I didn’t ever see anything that was racist in nature and so it seemed like a misplacement of blame to avoid accountability for many things," she said.

“And I just thought it was a gross breach of duty and responsibility and honour and confidence that had been placed on her. I thought it was an incredible stretch.”

Ms Markle also addressed Meghan’s legal case against the Mail on Sunday, who are accused of unlawfully publishing a letter she wrote to her father.

It has since emerged Mr Markle is willing to testify against his daughter in court.

On why her father feels so strongly in this case, Ms Markle said: “In consideration of the fact that that letter was seemingly written for the purpose of being seen, it would seem to be part of a smear campaign.”

Asked if her father is still keen to meet Prince Harry she said: “I can’t say soon. If it does, I really feel that Prince Harry and Megan have quite a bit of apologising to do. We’re not talking about teenagers, we’re talking about whom I believe knew exactly what they were doing and with regards to my father it was so incredibly wrong and unfair and shocking really.”

Meghan has been pictured at a women's charity in Vancouver
JUSTICE FOR GIRLS/AFP via Getty

Ms Markle said she thinks it was likely Meghan’s decision to step back as senior members of the royal family, saying her sister was not happy with the criticism that was taking place publicly.

Ending the interview, she had a message for Meghan, saying: “I would say life is very short and in the big picture the money and the fame don’t really matter.

“What really matters is personal integrity, honesty, family and so I would hope that she would come to grips with that, apologise and certainly for the benefit of Archie and the British Royal family, move forward being honest and look after the best interests of others. It’s so important and that’s all I can say.”

Her comments come after Meghan was pictured at two women’s charities in Vancouver this week, days after the Queen sanctioned a “transition period” where the couple would split their time between the UK and Canada.

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