Meghan Markle’s Siblings: A Closer Look at the Duchess of Sussex’s Half-Brother and Half-Sister

Published 01/06/2026, 9:36 AM EST

While Meghan Markle’s life today is shaped by media projects, motherhood, and global attention, her background remains a constant point of public curiosity. Before the Duchess of Sussex became a household name, her family life was layered and complex, like many modern households.

That complexity has frequently brought focus to her half-siblings, whose relationship with her has been widely discussed but rarely understood in full. Their stories continue to draw attention as part of the broader conversation around Markle’s personal history.

Meghan Markle’s lesser-known siblings

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Meghan Markle has two half-siblings from her father, Thomas Markle Sr.’s first marriage to Roslyn Markle. Her elder half-sister, Samantha Markle, is 61, while her half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., is 59. Both, notably, have an estranged relationship with the Duchess of Sussex.

Samantha Markle, who is wheelchair-bound due to her multiple sclerosis diagnosis, publicly criticised Meghan Markle’s exit from the royal family in 2020. Speaking to Inside Edition, she said the matter was shocking when the promises of honoring the monarchy and leading by example were taken into account.

Samantha Markle also sued Meghan Markle in 2022, claiming she lied about her and their father in her widely watched tell-all interview with close pal Oprah Winfrey. A judge later dismissed the case. As for Thomas Markle Jr., he blamed his famous half-sister’s relationship with Prince Harry for his drunken brawl with his fiancée, Darlene Blount, in 2018.

“We've been under a lot of stress because of all the attention. At some point, you find yourself drinking too much to escape the pressure,” he told the Daily Mail. Her siblings, meanwhile, are not the only family members from whom Meghan Markle is estranged.

Is Meghan Markle Finally Returning to the Hollywood Spotlight After Nearly a Decade Away?

Markle has long been at odds with her father, Thomas Markle Sr., with their fractured relationship coming under renewed scrutiny recently.

Meghan Markle and her father — Their bond explored

Meghan Markle’s father underwent serious surgery in the Philippines in December, leading to renewed media discussion over whether the Duchess reached out to him for emotional or possible financial support. It was later reported that while Markle sent her father a letter after his surgery, she has not spoken to him directly and plans to continue their rift. Their estrangement, for those uninitiated, stems from Thomas Markle Sr. working with photographers to stage photos of himself preparing for her wedding to Prince Harry.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

At the heart of the ongoing discussion around Meghan Markle’s family lies a story shaped by distance, public fallout, and unresolved emotions. While her life continues to move forward on her own terms, the ties that connect her to her past remain a source of fascination and debate. These relationships, marked by estrangement and public disagreement, underscore how personal histories can follow even the most carefully defined public lives, often raising questions that extend beyond titles, headlines, and royal associations.

Meghan Markle’s 6 Simple Yet Sweet Rituals With Her Family That Prove Royals Are Just Like Us

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

What do you think about Meghan Markle’s siblings and her relationship with them? Let us know in the comments below.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

ADVERTISEMENT

Seema Sinha

782 articles

Seema Sinha is a journalist at Netflix Junkie, covering the celebrity culture and global cinema beats. With three years of experience at major Hollywood media verticals, she filters real news from the gossip and buzz. Her core focus is on pop culture narratives surrounding musicians—primarily Taylor Swift—with her reporting striking a fine balance between human insight and editorial clarity.

Edited By: Hriddhi Maitra

ADVERTISEMENT

EDITORS' PICK