Exclusive

Meghan Markle using 'race card' as a 'decoy', half-sister tells Nick Ferrari

22 April 2022, 10:01 | Updated: 22 April 2022, 10:22

Samantha Markle: Meghan criticism is not motivated by racism

By Seán Hickey

Meghan Markle's estranged half-sister tells LBC that the Duchess of Sussex is avoiding questions about her 'lavish spending' by branding coverage against her as racist.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Nick Ferrari was joined by the half-sister of the Duchess of Sussex Samantha Markle in an LBC exclusive interview.

Following a week of controversy coming from Prince Harry's American interview, uncertainty swirls over whether Meghan Markle and the Duke of Sussex will be at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations this year.

Ms Markle told Nick earlier in the interview that Prince Harry's claim that he is protecting the Queen by not attending festivities is nonsense.

"There is a school of thought that some of the reaction towards your half-sister is because of her skin colour and that there is a racist element. How true do you think that might be?" Nick asked the former actress and model.

"That was definitely PR that came out in defence of some of her actions", Ms Markle insisted, pointing out that "there was a lot of controversy about lavish spending and lies and things going wrong."

Read more: Prince Harry speaks for first time about secret meeting with Queen

Samantha Markle on conflict with her sister

Read more: Meghan says she 'could not love and respect' Harry more during Invictus Games ceremony

Read more: Meghan Markle tries to trademark 'archetypes' ahead of Spotify podcast launch

"I don’t buy it", she said of claims of racism.

"I think when they were held to being accountable for their own actions, suddenly the decoy was the race card."

"It wasn't brought up when there was a $40 million wedding and a lovely choir and, you know, the fab four running around with wind blowing in my sister's hair and great pictures."

Ms Markle argued the accusations by her half-sister are unfounded, given how welcomed she was into the Royal Family.

"It was so much opportunity, so much unity and race was never mentioned. In fact, I think it was the first time in history that there was the perception of equality between socio economic class and race."

In the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's interview with Oprah Winfrey, Prince Harry branded the UK media landscape as a "toxic environment" which was "inherently corrupt or racist" and this culture filtered into coverage of Meghan.

In the same interview, Meghan stated that the Royal Family offered "no support" from attacks from the media.

In a statement released early on in their relationship, Prince Harry accused media coverage of Meghan Markle of possessing "racial undertones".

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

'Our wombs are owned by Westminister': Myleene Klass hits out at government for neglecting women going through baby loss

'Our wombs are owned by Westminster': Myleene Klass hits out at government for neglecting women experiencing baby loss

Exclusive
Nick Ferrari Challenge: Can LBC’s Henry Riley recreate Daniel Khalife’s prison escape?

Nick Ferrari Challenge: Can LBC’s Henry Riley recreate Daniel Khalife’s dramatic prison escape?

Exclusive
Mandy Damari, the mother of Emily Damari - the last remaining British citizen being held hostage in Gaza - has pleaded with Sir Keir Starmer to help bring her daughter home as she looked back on the harrowing events of October 7.

'It nearly broke my heart': Mother of British hostage Emily Damari blasts Downing Street over vetoed Gaza deal

Exclusive
Jane Rubens, 73, from Edinburgh was hit by a large vehicle in early November and remains in a coma.

Insurance firm gave Brit 'less than 24 hours' to make a decision against doctors’ advice after mum suffered brain injury

Exclusive
LBC’s Nick Ferrari has remembered being spiked while at a party.

‘The whole world was spinning’: Nick Ferrari candidly recalls drink spiking as he shares 'appalling' side-effects

Exclusive
‘The storm of war is gathering’: Defence cuts leave UK critically unprepared for a 'bumpy decade', warns ex-minister

‘The storm of war is gathering’: Defence cuts leave UK 'woefully unprepared' for a 'bumpy decade', warns ex-minister

Education Secretary Bridget Philipson 'hasn't changed her mind' and will vote against assisted dying bill

Education Secretary Bridget Philipson 'hasn't changed her mind' and will vote against assisted dying bill

Nick Ferrari takes to the streets of the US to ask Americans: 'Can you identify these British politicians?'

Nick Ferrari takes to the streets of the US to ask Americans: 'Can you identify these British politicians?'

Why did Trump win and why did Harris lose? Nick Ferrari asks American voters

Why did Trump win and Harris lose? Nick Ferrari asks American voters in the wake of US election results

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the United States'

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the US'

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said she strongly disagrees with a tweet that a backbench MP appeared to have reposted saying Kemi Badenoch represents "white supremacy in blackface".

Cooper condemns 'appalling' tweet shared by Dawn Butler labelling Kemi Badenoch 'white supremacy in blackface'

Exclusive
Cumberland County: Where the US election could be won or lost

Nick Ferrari travels to America for the US Election: Watch the best bits here

Exclusive
The Chancellor was speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast

Chancellor ‘doesn’t know’ salary of new chairman tasked with ensuring government ‘value for money'

Transparency over Southport stabbings key to avoiding 'deep public mistrust in the criminal justice system', says Jenrick

Transparency over Southport stabbings key to avoiding 'deep public mistrust' in criminal justice system, says Jenrick

Exclusive
The government has introduced its football governance bill.

'We're on the same side': Minister denies feud with Premier League over Football Governance Bill

Exclusive
Protest sign reading Danger water pollution, this water is polluted with raw sewage. The responsible party is Thames Water. River Wey, Guildford, UK

Government warns demand for water could outstrip supply as they launch review into 'broken' sector