Meghan Markle’s cousin reveals her privileged childhood, with Hawaii & Disney trips, despite her saying they struggled
MEGHAN Markle’s cousin has opened up about his childhood with the now-Duchess of Sussex – including detailing some of the swanky holidays she went on.
This follows Meghan claiming her family struggled when she was growing up and how she had to work from the age of 13.
Shawn Johnson, 43, who is Meghan’s cousin through her mum Doria Ragland’s brother Joseph Johnson lifted the lid on Prince Harry’s wife’s upbringing.
The embroiderer and graphic designer told DailyMail.com: “I don’t think any of us were really well off, but we had enough, and she definitely had enough.”
Speaking about how Meghan was growing up, he added: “She was always really sweet. She was kind and she always had a star quality about her.
“She was infectious with just the way she was and really mature for her age. She was always really looking after us and making sure that we’re all doing fine.”
The Duchess of Sussex was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, by mum Doria Ragland, a yoga instructor and social worker, and her television lighting director father Thomas Markle, who split when the future wife of Prince Harry was six.
As well as having trips to Disneyland, Meghan was also taken on family holidays to Hawaii, according to photos provided by Shawn.
Shawn added: “Meghan definitely helped make that childhood great – she was a big part of it. It was really nice just going out there [California] for the holidays, hanging out with her.”
He added that he always knew she would “do something amazing” and were “shocked” when she started dating Prince Harry in 2016, and married him in 2018.
Shawn commented that he has “no bad memories” of the duchess, and she was always “mature” and “ahead of the curve”.
Although Meghan and Shawn lost contact in their early twenties, he hopes to one day be reunited with Meghan, who also no longer talks to dad Thomas.
Shawn’s father Joseph – Meghan’s uncle – died aged 72 of congestive heart failure in August 2021.
In a letter to the US Congress, Meghan claimed she lived off $4.99 (£3.96) cheap salads as a kid and worked selling frozen yogurt as a 13-year-old.
She writes: “I grew up on the $4.99 salad bar at Sizzler – it may have cost less back then (to be honest, I can’t remember) – but what I do remember was the feeling: I knew how hard my parents worked to afford this because even at five bucks, eating out was something special, and I felt lucky.
“And as a Girl Scout, when my troop would go to dinner for a big celebration, it was back to that same salad bar or The Old Spaghetti Factory – because that’s what those families could afford.
I don’t think any of us were really well off, but we had enough, and she definitely had enough
Shawn Johnson
“I waited tables, babysat, and piecemealed jobs together to cover odds and ends,” Meghan writes.
“I worked all my life and saved when and where I could – but even that was a luxury – because usually it was about making ends meet and having enough to pay my rent and put gas in my car.”
At the time critics slammed the letter and pointed out her father was an Emmy award-winning lighting director and that she enjoyed a private education that cost $16,000 (£12,673)-a-year, which was paid by her dad’s salary and state lottery win.
She was always really sweet. She was kind and she always had a star quality about her
Shawn Johnson
When she was nine, Meghan’s dad won $750,000 (£594,090) in a lottery, which helped send her to the Immaculate Heart Catholic School – one of LA’s finest.
Although Meghan still regularly sees Doria, Thomas’ relationship with his Duchess daughter has been difficult for years and the pair have been estranged since her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.
In September 2023, Thomas renewed pleas to see his grandkids Archie, four, and Lilibet, two, live on Good Morning Britain.
Speaking live from his California home, Thomas said: “I’m heartbroken. I am very upset. This is a cruel thing to do to a grandparent – to deny the right to see a grandchild.”
Who are Meghan Markle's siblings?
Thomas Markle has three children and seven grandchildren.
Together with his first wife Roslyn, Thomas had two children, Samantha Markle, and Thomas Markle Jr.
Samantha was born on November 24, 1964, and is 17 years older than her duchess half sister.
Samantha is known as a former actress and model, who lives in Florida.
With his second wife Doria, Thomas Senior welcomed Meghan on August 4, 1981.
He added: “In California, I can actually sue to see them but I don’t want to do that.”
Thomas went on to say: “The other thing is I’ve done nothing wrong. There’s nothing that points to say I’m a bad guy.
“I’m a really loving father and she knows that, and there’s no excuse for treating me this way – no excuse to treat grandparents that way.”