Just when you think things can’t get any more embarrassing around the royal dinner table, it’s reported that Meghan Markle’s big brother has been arrested.
The Associated Press claims Thomas Wayne Markle Jr was “visibly intoxicated” when pulled over in his car at 1.30am on Friday morning – and was taken directly to a “detox centre”.
Thomas, 52 – who is half-brother to the new Duchess of Sussex – is reportedly facing a drink-driving charge after the arrest in Oregon.
PA reports: “State police said Thomas Wayne Markle Jr. was visibly intoxicated when he was pulled over at about 1:30 a.m. Friday in Josephine County, in southwestern Oregon. Authorities said his blood-alcohol content was 0.11 percent, above the legal limit of 0.08 percent.”
The former Suits actress – who is currently pregnant with her and Prince Harry’s first child – is estranged from much of her family, including her brother, her dad, Thomas Snr, and her half-sister, Samantha.
Royal fans were shocked by the breaking news, with one commenting: “And yet her family members wonder why she doesn’t want them around!!! Who would want all these self destructive people in their life when trying to have children or while raising them???
Another wrote: “Funny how her father’s side of the family keeps popping up in the news. #theygotissues.” A third blasted: “Why are they embarrassing her!!!”
Others defended Meghan, 37, tweeting: “We don’t choose our relatives.” A second moaned: “Put his name in the headline and leave hers out of it, she has nothing to do with it.”
A third insisted: “We have more important things to worry about than this.”
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It’s particularly bad timing for the Markle family, as it comes just days after Thomas issued a wedding invitation to his little sister, begging her to “bring our family closer together”.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Meghan’s big brother – who is marrying his fiancée, Darlene Blount in March – revealed that he’d sent an official wedding invitation to Meghan and Harry.
Thomas confirmed he hoped “our wedding will bring the family closer together”.
He added: “It’s hopeful that if Meghan and Harry came and my father – Meghan and Harry could spend some time together with him and that would be good.”
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Of course this doesn’t reflect on Meghan. But she must be wondering what her new in-laws make of all these stories…
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