MEGHAN Markle married into the British Royal Family and gave birth to her first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, on May 6, 2019.
While the Duchess of Sussex’s family is now well-known around the world, we explain everything about Meghan’s own family tree.
Who’s in Meghan Markle’s family?
Some of Meghan’s family are well-known and were incredibly vocal in the run-up to her royal wedding.
But the Duchess of Sussex’s mum was her only close relative at the ceremony after her dad Thomas pulled out last minute.
It was left to Prince Charles to walk his now daughter-in-law down the aisle as she prepared to say I do to Prince Harry at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
The wedding took place on May 19, 2018.
Who’s Meghan Markle’s son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor?
After intense speculation that Meghan Markle was pregnant, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed the news on October 15, 2018.
Rumours had been rife after the duchess wore loose clothing to a number of engagements, including Princess Eugenie’s wedding.
The news broke on Kensington Palace’s Twitter.
It added: “Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public.”
And finally on May 6, 2019, Meghan and Prince Harry announced the Duchess had given birth to a boy.
Their son was born at 5.26am.
The royal couple named him Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.
He is seventh in line to the throne.
On Valentine’s day, the couple announced they are expecting a second child.
Who’s Meghan Markle’s dad Thomas?
Meghan Markle’s dad is Thomas Markle Snr, a former Emmy-award winning television lighting director.
He worked on iconic US shows including Married with Children and General Hospital.
Born in 1945, he is of Dutch-Irish origin and currently lives in New Mexico.
Thomas Snr married Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland in 1979, but they divorced in 1987.
Who’s Meghan Markle’s Mum Doria Ragland?
Meghan’s mum was the bride’s only close relative who attended the wedding, after her father pulled out.
Doria Ragland is a yoga instructor and social worker, and Meghan, born in 1981, is her only child.
Her Facebook page says she works in social work at Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services in California.
Doria has been by her daughter’s side following the birth of her first grandchild.
Who’s Meghan Markle’s half-sister Samantha Grant?
Thomas Markle Snr’s oldest child, Samantha Grant, sometimes referred to as Samantha Markle.
In 2008 she was diagnosed with MS and now uses a wheelchair.
Samantha has been very vocal on her views on Meghan’s marriage, giving multiple interviews to US and UK media.
The former actress and model lives in Florida, and has written a memoir called ‘Diary of Princess Pushy’s Sister’.
She was not invited to the royal wedding.
Who’s Meghan Markle’s half-brother Thomas Markle Jnr?
Meghan has a half-brother, Thomas Markle Jnr.
He is the son of her father and his first wife, Roslyn, as is Samantha.
The father-of-two has previously had run-ins with the law, and works as a window fitter in Oregon.
He too was not invited to the royal wedding.
Who are Meghan Markle’s nephews?
Meghan has two nephews – Tyler and Thomas, who are in their 20s.
They are the sons of her half-brother Thomas Markle Jnr and his ex-wife Tracy Dooley.
Tyler is said to work on a Cannabis farm in Oregon, while Thomas, known as TJ, is believed to be a manager at a Domino’s restaurant.
Neither they nor their mother were invited to the wedding, but the trio arrived in London to appear as ‘special correspondents’ on Good Morning Britain before being dropped.
The day after Meghan’s son was born Tyler injured his leg during a heated 20-man brawl in Oregon.
Who are Meghan Markle’s aunts, uncles and cousins?
Meghan has three uncles and one aunt.
She has two uncles on her father’s side, and the remaining two on her mother’s side.
One of her uncles, Michael, said in August 2018 that he was “surprised” he was not on the guest list, saying his exclusion was a “snub” by the Royal Family.
Michael enjoyed a 19-year US government career but while he now suffers from Parkinson’s disease he said he would have made the effort to be there at Windsor Castle for the wedding.
His daughter, Trish Gallop, said she was equally saddened to have been left off the list.
Michael and Thomas Markle Snr’s other brother, Fred, is a bishop.
Fred is said to work at Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel in Florida.
On her mother’s side, she has uncle Joseph Johnson, and Doria’s half-sister, Saundra.
None of them were invited to the wedding.
Who else is Meghan related to?
It turns out Meghan has a host of famous and infamous relatives.
According to genealogists, she is distantly related to both William Shakespeare and Winston Churchill.
Research found Meghan is the Bard’s fifth cousin 13 times removed on her mum Doria’s side.
And she is a sixth cousin five times removed of Prime Minister Churchill through British settler Zachariah Howe.
And she is also believed to be related to the notorious serial killer H.H. Holmes.
It has been claimed Meghan has the American medic in her family tree.
He confessed to 27 murders, and is also a suspect in the Jack the Ripper murders which rocked London in the 19th century.
