Big Brother VIP: Everything to know about Thomas Markle Jr.

Ever since Meghan Markle's relationship with Prince Harry was revealed, her estranged family has had lots to say in the press about her and how they all grew up. Amongst those are her older half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr.

Given he's been fairly open and critical of his sister, with Thomas Jr, 55, stepping into the Big Brother VIP hotel, which we can watch from Monday, we're sure he's going to have a lot more to say about his famous sibling.

The animosity really began when Meghan refused to invite her father and his side of her family to her royal wedding in April 2018, where 600 invited guests and a further 2500 members of the public watched her wed her prince.

"She's clearly forgotten her roots," Thomas Jr. told The Mirror at the time. "It's torn my entire family apart."

"Meg likes to portray herself as a humanitarian, a people's person and a charitable person but she is none of those things to her family.

"She is giving the greatest ­performance of her life. She is acting phoney. Once she got into Hollywood she turned into a different person. She's clearly forgotten her roots and her family," he added.

RELATED:

• Big Brother fan favourite contestants returning for 2022 All-Stars season

• Bernard Curry on the ‘racy’ Big Brother VIP moment fans won't see

• Big Brother VIP: Everything you need to know about Caitlyn Jenner

He even wrote an open letter to Prince Harry on the eve of the wedding telling him it wasn't too late to back out of the wedding.

In the handwritten note, Thomas Jr called Meghan a "jaded, shallow, conceited woman that will make a joke of you and the royal family heritage."

Thomas Jr. and his older sister, Samantha Markle, are the children of Thomas Markle Sr. and his first wife Roslyn. Thomas Sr. worked as an Emmy award-winning lighting director in Los Angeles and met Meghan's mother Doria Ragland, when she worked as a make-up artist for ABC.

While the marriage between Meghan's parents didn't last, (they divorced when Meghan was six) both parents tried to give her the best upbringing that they could and she lived with both on and off over the years.

Along with the snub from his famous sibling, window fitter Thomas Jr. has had a brush with the law. The twice-married dad of two was previously arrested for allegedly holding a gun to his fiancée Darlene Blount's head.

Since his half-sister's wedding, Thomas Jr. has cashed in on her high profile and used it to carve out a media career for himself.

His latest venture is to star in Big Brother VIP where he is sure to share more insights about his tumultuous relationship with his famous half-sister, Meghan.

"The guy she was married to the first time, she just walked all over him and dumped him," Thomas Jr. said about Meghan's first husband, film producer Trevor Engelson prior to appearing in the show. "Harry’s on the chopping block next!"

Despite those fighting words, Thomas Jr. says his biggest hope in appearing on Big Brother VIP is to reignite his relationship with sister Meghan.

"I would hope she wishes me luck and says to Harry, 'let’s go meet your brother-in-law and be a family again.'" he says optimistically.

Big Brother VIP premieres 7.30pm, 1 November, Channel 7 and 7plus

Never miss a thing. Sign up to Yahoo Lifestyle’s daily newsletter.

Or if you have a story idea, email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com.