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From the moment American actor Meghan Markle first hooked up with England’s Prince Harry, the press has obsessed over their relationship.
One of the biggest pieces of tabloid fodder has been Meghan’s strained relationship with her father, Thomas Markle. But the pair hasn’t always been at odds with each other.
Once upon a time, Thomas and Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, were a couple in love, working together to help their daughter navigate the world as a young biracial woman. Nothing lasts forever, though. From the couple’s early struggle with racism to their separate relationships with their daughter today, here’s a timeline of Meghan Markle’s parents’ dysfunctional relationship.
Source: perezhilton.com
Why did Meghan Markle’s father miss her wedding and what has their relationship been like since then?
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, was in the spotlight even before her marriage to Prince Harry due to her high-profile acting career and humanitarian work. However, her personal life and family issues have also grabbed the headlines, particularly the tumultuous relationship between her parents, Thomas Markle Sr. and Doria Ragland. Here’s a timeline of their dysfunctional relationship:
1979: Thomas Markle Sr. and Doria Ragland meet and fall in love in the United States. At the time, Thomas is a successful lighting director in the entertainment industry, while Doria is working as a makeup artist.
1981: The couple gets married and welcomes their first child, Thomas Markle Jr. Three years later, they have their second child, Samantha Markle. Meghan Markle is born in 1981, completing the family.
1990s: Thomas Markle Sr. and Doria Ragland’s marriage starts showing signs of trouble. They separate, and Thomas moves to Rosarito, Mexico, where he starts a successful photography business. Doria remains in Los Angeles, where she works as a social worker and yoga instructor.
2011: Meghan Markle marries producer Trevor Engelson in Jamaica after dating him for seven years. However, the marriage doesn’t last, and they get divorced two years later.
2016: Meghan Markle meets Prince Harry on a blind date set up by a mutual friend. They hit it off and start dating privately.
2017: Meghan Markle’s relationship with Prince Harry becomes public, and the media attention intensifies. Her estranged half-sister Samantha Markle starts speaking out against her in the media and writes a book about her.
2018: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry get married in a lavish ceremony at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. However, her father, Thomas Markle Sr., doesn’t attend the wedding due to health issues.
Thomas Markle Sr. initially agreed to walk his daughter down the aisle but later pulled out after he was accused of staging paparazzi photos for money. This incident led to a strained relationship between Meghan and her father, and he has since given several interviews to the media, where he has criticized his daughter and the royal family.
2019: Thomas Markle Jr. writes an open letter to Prince Harry, begging him to call off the wedding, citing Meghan’s supposed selfishness and manipulative nature. The letter is widely criticized in the media, and Thomas Markle Jr. later apologizes and says he was under the influence of alcohol when he wrote it.
2020: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announce that they are stepping back from their roles as senior members of the royal family and moving to North America to pursue their own business ventures.
Amidst all the public drama, Meghan Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, has remained a steady presence and has been supportive of her daughter throughout her journey. She was the only member of Meghan’s family to attend her wedding and has been spotted visiting her grandchildren with her daughter and son-in-law. While Meghan Markle’s parents’ relationship has been tumultuous over the years, her mother’s unwavering love and support have been a source of comfort and strength for her.
