Meghan Markle has already made quite the name for herself as the royal family’s most glamorous new addition.
But as a never-before-seen childhood image of the now-36-year-old Suits actress shows, she wasn’t always quite so chic and put together.
Shared with InTouch by Meghan’s estranged half-sister Samantha Grant, 52, the candid snap shows the two siblings posing happily together – with a young Meghan beaming at the camera while sporting a pair of large glasses and a long, untamed hairstyle.
Way back when! A previously unseen image of Meghan Markle (right) shows the future royal as a child, sporting large glasses and untamed hairs while posing with half-sister Samantha Grant
What a difference! The now-36-year-old looked away from the awkward childhood snap when she stepped out with Prince Harry for an official engagement in South London on Tuesday
The image, which appears to have been taken when Meghan was in her late tweens or early teens, sees the brunette youngster modeling a white pussy-bow blouse with large black polka dots, while her sister is modeling a yellow mock-neck sweater and a bright pink watch.
Speaking about Meghan’s demeanor as a child, Samantha described her half-sibling – with whom she was once very close – as an ‘extremely well-behaved and respectful’ youngster, who showed maturity and ‘diplomacy’ beyond her years.
As well as sharing the picture, which was published as part of a series of previously unseen snaps from the future royal’s childhood, Florida-based Samantha also shared new details about Meghan’s relationship with their dad, Thomas Markle – while calling for the former screen star to offer financial aid to the 73-year-old.
Samantha spoke up on behalf of her father, claiming that he was responsible for ensuring Meghan had the best education, social connections, and contacts within the industry, all of which she believes enabled her to land her career-making role on Suits – and all of which she believes should be recognized in the form of monetary support.
‘If you can spend $75,000 on a dress, you can spend $75,000 on your dad,’ she pointed out, referencing the pricey gown that Meghan wore to pose alongside future husband Prince Harry in their recently-released engagement photos.
Samantha went on to reveal that Thomas has been suffering from a ‘bad leg’, but insisted that he is determined the ailment will not stop him from walking Meghan down the aisle at her wedding to Prince Harry on May 19 and is working with doctors to ensure that his attendance isn’t put in jeopardy.
‘He’s working with a doctor to improve [the leg] so it minimizes his pain and he’ll be able to walk Meg down the aisle,’ Samantha explained.
Determined: Samantha, 52, revealed that Thomas Markle, 73, pictured with Meghan, has been suffering from a ‘bad leg’ but he will not let it stop him walking the future royal down the aisle
Helping hand: She added that she believes Meghan should be financially supporting her father as a thanks for all the help he gave the actress throughout her childhood and career
Giving back? Meghan’s half-sibling referenced the $75,000 dress she is seen wearing in her engagement pictures with Harry, suggesting she should give that same sum to her dad
As for the rift between Meghan and her father and half-sister, Samantha says the blame rests with the former actress’s mother, Doria Ragland, 61, whom she accuses of ‘shutting everyone out’ after Meghan began dating Prince harry in secret back in 2016.
‘In my mind Doria wanted to run around and seal off all the hatches,’ she said, adding that the social worker became ‘possessive and controlling’ over her daughter and her relationship, before claiming that Doria hopes to one day live at Kensington Palace with the soon-to-be-married couple.
But despite the distance between Meghan and her father, Samantha said she believes that Harry reached out to Thomas in order to seek his permission to marry his daughter – although she confirmed that he has still has yet to meet his father-in-law.
Samantha’s interview with InTouch comes just days after she appeared on British TV show The Wright Stuff via video link, during which she once again insisted that, barring a disaster her father Thomas would take his place beside the royal bride-to-be at Windsor Castle.
Her comments come after reports last week claimed Meghan wanted her mother, yoga instructor Doria Ragland, to have the honour of walking her down the aisle.
But Samantha told Matthew Wright today that ‘unless a plane crashes’, Thomas Markle ‘will be there’.
Host Matthew Wright said during the interview: ‘There’s a growing hope and expectation here that your father, Thomas, may be walking Meghan down the aisle. Do we know yet whether that will happen?’
Speaking live from Florida, Samantha responded and said: ‘Yes he is. God forbid unless a plane crashes…’
She added: ‘He’ll be there one way or the other. Yes he is. Any rumour to the contrary is… My favourite new word is becoming ‘oh rubbish.’ Yeah, so [he] will be there.’
It comes after Thomas broke his silence on the impending nuptials to say he thought his daughter and Prince Harry were ‘a very good match’.
Speaking out: Last week, Samantha appeared on British TV show The Wright Stuff, during which she claimed only a ‘disaster’ would stop her dad attending Meghan’s wedding
Speculation: Prince Harry and Meghan are set to marry on May 19, and since announcing their engagement, rumors have been rife about exactly who will walk her down the aisle
Describing the Royal as a ‘gentleman’, Thomas quashed rumours of a rift with his actress daughter during a conversation with a passerby in Mexico.
The conversation was captured in video footage obtained by the Sun, in which the future royal’s father can be heard expressing his desire to attend the wedding in person.
When asked how he felt about the impending ceremony at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, he said: ‘I think it’s wonderful, I’m very delighted. I think they’re [a] very good match, I’m very happy for them, Meghan and Harry.
‘I love my daughter very much — Harry’s a gentleman.’
It was the first time Mr. Markle has spoken publicly about the Prince, though he has previously admitted that he would ‘love to’ be the one to give Meghan away.
Samantha, who has been outspoken about her relationship with her half-sister, also aired her own thoughts on whether President Donald Trump would be invited.
She said: ‘I think it is up to Harry and Meg who they want to invite.
‘I think Donald Trump is getting to the point where he can’t fire everybody. He can fire everybody in the White House and then he’ll simply be alone. But he can’t fire everybody at the wedding and he certainly can’t fire the Royal Family.’
She also described her book, ‘The Diary of Princess Pushy’s Sister’, as a ‘service’ to ‘share information that is socially and historically valuable’.
And asked what she would say to her sister if she could talk to her today she responded: ‘I would say “you should know not to believe everything that you read in tabloids”.
‘I love you, I admire you, I’m incredibly proud of you and we will sit down and have tea and I look forward to it.’