Meghan Markle's Remembrance Sunday Tribute Is 'Exploitative Photo Opportunity,' Sister Samantha Says

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Remembrance Sunday photos received another round of criticism from the duchess' own sister, Samantha Markle.

Samantha spoke with Dan Wootton on the UK's talkRadio where she made scorching remarks about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Remembrance Sunday tribute. For Samantha, they did it for publicity since their visit to the Los Angeles National Cemetery was captured by photographer Lee Morgan.

"Well, don't get me started on the concept of photo scandals, because allegedly that was the reason she disowned our father," Samantha said referring to their dad Thomas Markle Sr.'s staged photos days before Prince Harry and Markle's wedding day in 2018. The controversy made headlines and Markle Sr. eventually canceled his attendance to the event, saying he underwent heart surgery and was still recovering.

"So I was a bit shocked to see that on such an important topic — Remembrance and gratitude towards so many who have sacrificed their lives so we can live as we do today, as Harry said — that gratitude would be shown by an exploitative photo opportunity over fallen heroes," she added.

Samantha wasn’t the first to criticize the royal couple after their Remembrance Sunday photos made headlines. British journalist Piers Morgan also slammed the Sussexes for allegedly trying to steal the limelight from the royal family who also celebrated the event in the U.K.

"Just outrageous - treating Remembrance Sunday like a PR opportunity, & trying to steal headlines from the real royals doing their duty back home," Morgan wrote on Twitter.

Several netizens also shared the same opinion. For them, it wasn’t necessary because they already renounced their royal duties. Some supported the couple’s decision, but they didn’t approve of them bringing a photographer during their visit to the cemetery.

"I can understand him paying his respects he did serve, what I find utterly disgusting is they want privacy but took a photographer with them! #RemembranceSunday is not a photo opportunity for personal PR #ShameOnYou," one tweeted.

Meanwhile, Samantha also talked about her nephew, Archie. She hasn’t met him and isn’t sure if she would ever see Prince Harry and Markle’s son.

"Archie has become somewhat of a phantom in the eyes of everybody, because he must be walking now and he wasn't present at the memorial. I think the world hopes for the best for him, but I can't address it now because we haven't seen him and I don't know that we will sadly," she added.