Meghan Markle has told how dad Thomas got her a 'rule breaking' Christmas present when she was seven years old.
The Duchess of Sussex said the 75-year-old, who lives in Mexico, probably got 'glares' for the heartwarming gift - but it filled her with so much pride.
In her blog, The Tig, which she shut down after her engagement to Prince Harry , the 38-year-old shared private details of the present which Thomas purchased from Toys R Us.
They were three dolls that he had wrapped up in glitter-flecked paper and customised.
Meghan recalled: "When I was about seven, I had been fawning over a boxed set of Barbie dolls.
"It was called The Heart Family and included a mom doll, a dad doll, and two children. This perfect nuclear family was only sold in sets of white dolls or black dolls.
"I don’t remember coveting one over the other, I just wanted one."
While perusing the aisles, it struck a chord with Thomas who had seen Meghan come home from school one day upset over her mixed raced background.
She had been asked to tick whether she was white, black, Hispanic or Asian on an exam paper.
Having a Caucasian father and an African American mother , she didn't know which box she fitted into so she left it blank in despair.
The incident made Thomas so enraged his 'eyes popped' and his skin turn blotchy and red, he then told Meghan to 'draw her own box.'
So when at Toys R Us faced with the boxes of dolls in front of him, Thomas 'broke the rules' and took them apart to make a custom family for his little girl.
Meghan continued: "On Christmas morning, swathed in glitter-flecked wrapping paper, there I found my Heart Family: a black mom doll, a white dad doll, and a child in each color.
"My dad had taken the sets apart and customized my family.
"I picture him standing there in Toys R Us, moms glaring at him for taking the toys apart, perhaps an employee saying 'excuse me sir, you can’t do that' — as my dad carefully separated the boxed sets to make one that echoed my reality.
"One that showed me that I should (and could) make my own box."
Meanwhile, this Christmas will be Harry and Meghan's first as parents to Archie.
They are spending it in California with the Duchess's mum, Doria Ragland.
Traditionally the whole Royal Family go to Sandringham with the Queen.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are looking forward to extended family time towards the end of this month.
“Having spent the last two Christmases at Sandringham, Their Royal Highnesses will spend the holiday this year, as a new family, with the Duchess’ mother Doria Ragland.
“This decision is in line with precedent set previously by other members of the Royal Family, and has the support of Her Majesty The Queen.
“For security reasons, we will not be providing further details on their schedule at this time.”
