Meghan Markle’s estranged half-sister Samantha has begged the duchess to let the pair’s father visit baby Archie, saying “being excluded is like a dagger through the heart”.

In an interview with The Mirror, Samantha said Thomas Markle was left saddened when the first pictures of Meghan and Prince Harry’s son were revealed to the world last week.

She said she excitedly called him up after the first family pictures were released but that it was “a sad moment for him”.

“He should have been involved,” she said. “Being excluded is like a dagger through his heart.

“And poor Master Archie is not getting to know a creative, loving person.”

Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland was pictured with the royal couple as they introduced Archie to the Queen and Prince Phillip, and Samantha said she wished Ms Ragland had stepped in to make sure Mr Markle was there.

“She could have said ‘get your dad out here’. But sadly there seemed to be a lack of effort,” she said.