Doria Ragland's Family: Snubbed At The Royal Wedding?

Meghan Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, was the only member of Markle's family to be invited to her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018. Markle's father, Thomas Markle Sr., did not attend the wedding due to poor health, and it appears that none of Markle's half-siblings or other close relatives were invited. Ragland sat alone during the ceremony, and cameras captured her overcome with emotion as her daughter exchanged vows with Prince Harry.

Doria Ragland's daughter, Meghan Markle, had a strained relationship with her half-sister, Samantha Grant

Meghan Markle, daughter of Doria Ragland, had a strained relationship with her half-sister, Samantha Grant. They hadn't spoken in about 10 years, and Grant claimed that her diagnosis with multiple sclerosis in 2008 led to their estrangement. Grant accused Markle of ignoring her condition, stating, "Humanitarianism begins at home. That doesn't mean monetary, it means reaching out." Grant's illness confines her to a wheelchair, and she started a $20,000 GoFundMe campaign in 2017 to help raise money to make her home more wheelchair accessible.

Grant has also slammed Markle in the press, calling her a "shallow social climber" and accusing her of abandoning her financially strapped father. Grant has also taken shots at Markle's husband, Prince Harry, criticising his humanitarian work and telling him to "man up."

Meghan Markle's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., was arrested for holding a gun to his girlfriend's head

Thomas Jr.'s legal troubles and substance abuse issues were not the only reasons for the rift between him and Meghan. Thomas Jr. wrote a letter to Prince Harry, urging him to call off the wedding, claiming that Meghan was a "jaded, shallow, conceited woman" and that marrying her would be "the biggest mistake in royal history." He also penned an apology letter to Meghan, begging for an invitation to the wedding, which he did not receive.

Thomas Jr.'s son, Tyler Dooley, expressed his embarrassment over his father's actions and apologized on his behalf. Tyler also revealed that his father had not spoken to Meghan in "seven or so" years, indicating a long-standing estrangement between Meghan and her half-brother.

The drama surrounding Thomas Jr. and the rest of Meghan's family caused a lot of tension and led to a very public family feud that played out in the tabloids. Meghan's family members, including Thomas Jr., regularly insulted the bride and made embarrassing headlines, which likely influenced the decision not to invite them to the wedding.

Meghan Markle's nephew, Tyler Dooley, grew a strain of weed named after her

Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry was a major event that garnered international attention. However, the royal nuptials were marred by drama and controversy involving Markle's family, particularly her half-siblings, Thomas Markle Jr. and Samantha Grant. Markle's extended family members, including her aunt and nephews, were not invited to the wedding, sparking various speculations and headlines.

One of these nephews, Tyler Dooley, made headlines for an unusual reason. Tyler is the son of Thomas Markle Jr. and has had a complicated relationship with his famous aunt. Despite the family drama, Tyler reportedly had fond memories of Markle babysitting him as a child. However, his father's fighting with Markle's dad created a rift, and they lost touch.

In a surprising twist, Tyler chose to pay tribute to his aunt and her wedding to Prince Harry in a rather unconventional way. Tyler, who runs a successful cannabis business in Oregon, decided to create a special strain of weed named "Markle's Sparkle." He was excited about the royal wedding and even offered Prince Harry a chance to try his unique strain. This move certainly raised eyebrows, especially considering the scandalous nature of the business in the context of the royal family.

While Tyler's actions might seem like a harmless gesture, it is essential to understand the cultural and legal differences between the United States and the United Kingdom. In the UK, Tyler's cannabis business and the creation of the "Markle's Sparkle" strain would be considered criminal offenses, potentially leading to jail time. This stark contrast underscores the complexities of having a family member involved in an industry that is legal and accepted in one country but highly controversial in another.

Meghan Markle's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., wrote a letter to Prince Harry urging him to call off the wedding

Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry was a highly publicised event, but it was notable that most of Markle's family were not invited. Markle's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., was one such relative who did not receive an invitation. In fact, Thomas Jr. went as far as to write a letter to Prince Harry, urging him to call off the wedding, claiming that Meghan Markle was "obviously not the right woman" for him and calling her a "jaded, shallow, conceited woman that will make a joke of you and the royal family heritage".

Thomas Jr.'s letter to Prince Harry was not an isolated incident. Markle's extended family made headlines in the lead-up to the wedding due to a series of embarrassing squabbles and public insults directed at the bride. Markle's half-sister, Samantha Grant, also contributed to the drama, publicly bashing the bride and groom in the tabloids and changing her last name to Markle, seemingly to align herself with the soon-to-be princess.

The Markles' financial situation was also speculated to be a reason for the lack of family invitations to the wedding. Meghan Markle's father, Thomas Wayne Markle, had approximately $216 in savings when he filed for bankruptcy in 2017. Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, filed for bankruptcy in 2002, with around $58,000 in credit card debt. Thomas Markle Jr. himself filed for bankruptcy in 2013, with about $97,000 in debts.

In addition to financial woes, there were also concerns about substance abuse and legal issues within the family. Thomas Markle Jr. was arrested in 2017 for allegedly holding a gun to his girlfriend's head during an argument. Although the charges were later dropped, it is likely that the royal family preferred to keep him at a distance.

Ultimately, the decision to not invite Doria Ragland's family to the wedding may have been a result of various factors, including strained relationships, financial troubles, and public scandals. The royal couple never officially responded to the antics of Markle's extended family, but their wedding snub spoke volumes.

Doria Ragland's family tree is noticeably less complicated than her ex-husband's

The Markle family tree is a complex web of half-siblings, multiple divorced spouses, and their children. Meghan Markle's father, Thomas Wayne Markle Sr., was a divorced 33-year-old when he met Doria Ragland, a 21-year-old makeup artist. They married in 1979 and had their only child, Meghan, in 1981. The couple separated when their daughter was two years old and divorced in 1987 or 1988. Thomas Markle Sr. has two children from his previous marriage, Thomas Wayne Markle Jr. and Samantha Markle (born Yvonne Marie Markle), who are Meghan's half-siblings. This already complicated family dynamic is further entangled by multiple divorces and children from subsequent marriages.

In stark contrast, Doria Ragland's family tree is noticeably less complicated. She was born to Jeanette Arnold and her second husband, Alvin Ragland, an antiques dealer. Jeanette worked as a nurse, while Alvin sold items at flea markets. Doria has two older maternal half-siblings, Joseph ("JJ") and Saundra Johnson, and a younger paternal half-brother, Alvin Joffrey Ragland. While there is some complexity with step-relations due to her parents' divorces and remarriages, it is still a far cry from the complexities of her ex-husband's family.

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