Meghan Markle's half-sister Samantha has told DailyMailTV that she is delighted to be an aunt again and hopes to meet her new nephew one day.

Samantha, 54, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, said she wants Meghan to know that she has a whole family in the US who are thrilled for her and said she thinks the newest addition to the royal family will grow up 'to be an exceptional man'.

But she also reiterated her calls for Meghan to connect with their father Thomas Markle Sr, 74, and said 'life is too short' for them to remain estranged.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with DailyMailTV, she he said: 'Well I love it! I'm already an aunt and am lucky enough to have Thomas and Tyler as my nephews.

Meghan Markle's half-sister Samantha Markle tell DailyMail TV she is delighted to become an aunt again after the Duchess of Sussex gave birth to a baby boy Monday

She reiterated her calls for Meghan to connect with their father Thomas Markle Sr, 74, and said 'life is too short' for them to remain estranged

Samantha hopes this new addition will bring Meghan back together with the family, saying: 'We've extended the olive branch and now it is Meghan's turn'

'I spent a lot of time with them when they were babies and I love them. Family is family.

'What I think is incredible is that it's a great moment historically and although the adults have a lot of water under the bridge, I would really like to see everyone reach out.

'We've extended the olive branch and now it is Meghan's turn.'

The Duchess of Sussex gave birth to her first child in the early hours of Monday morning with her mother Doria Ragland and husband Prince Harry by her side.

The baby boy, who arrived more than a week overdue, was born in hospital, and weighed in at 7lbs 30oz.

A clearly delighted Prince Harry appeared on TV the same day to give an update on mother and son and said both were doing well.

He added: 'We're both absolutely thrilled and so grateful to the love and support from everybody out there.

'It's been amazing so we just wanted to share this with everybody.'

In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, Los Angeles-based Doria, 62, said she was 'overjoyed' by the arrival of her first grandchild.

Meghan's estranged father Thomas Markle Sr released a statement congratulating Harry and Meghan but it remains unclear if he will ever meet his sixth grandchild

Samantha said she would love for their father 'to be part of the baby's life,' and said 'Meg is his baby too'

Prince Harry was clearly delighted to be a new father as he discussed the news in an impromptu press conference at Windsor Castle

Royal staff confirmed the news with a traditional message on an easel outside Buckingham Palace. The notice pointedly failed to name the physicians who helped with the birth, as is tradition

Markle Sr, who has spent the run-up to the birth alone at home in Mexico, also spoke out about the arrival of his new grandchild – his sixth – and said he wished the baby health and happiness.

He added: 'My congratulations to my lovely daughter Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry and GOD save the Queen.'

Yesterday, he did not respond to messages asking for further comment and did not answer the door at his modest Baja California home.

Eldest daughter Samantha said she discovered she had become an aunt for the third time shortly after the birth, and was given the news by a friend in LA.

Despite having not spoken to her sister since 2008, she told DailyMailTV she hopes to be a part of her new nephew's life and pointed out that the little boy is as much a Markle as he is a Windsor.

'We're all welcoming the baby – Markles, Raglands, Sussexes, Windsors. In terms of the gene pool, we've all made a contribution to this wonderful little boy who will probably grow up to be an exceptional man and we'd like to treat this as if we're all a big family.

'It would be nice not to react to what we've heard in the news but to personally meet him and let him judge us for himself.

Meghan has distanced herself from her half siblings Samantha Markle and Thomas Markle Jr (pictured) but the family hope the birth of the child will inspire the Duchess of Sussex to make amends

Samantha's daughter Noelle, 21, is one of Thomas Markle Sr's five grandchildren. Samantha has two other children Ashleigh, 33, and Chris, 31, who both live in Virginia. Thomas Dooley Markle (left) and Tyler Dooley Markle (right) are the son of Thomas Markle Jr and Tracy Anne Dooley (center). They are Meghan's nephews

'I want him to know he's got a big family and he's part of an amazing historical time and we're all excited for him.

'We're excited for Meg and Harry - I am really excited for her. I love her, she's my baby sister and it doesn't matter what we've all said back and forth but she's got to do the right thing.

'I just want to say Meg, you've got a world here and a family here [in the US] that's excited for you.'

Mother-of-three Samantha also said she hoped the new arrival would help heal the rift between Markle Sr and youngest daughter Meghan, telling DailyMailTV she wants her father to meet his new grandchild – his sixth.

She said: 'I would really love him to be a part of the baby's life. But more than that, Meg is his baby too.

'I want Meg to be part of his life, I want Meg to be able to share this beautiful time with him in whatever way she can. I think it's important for her too.

'I hope something sticks with her – that she decides to do the right thing for my dad. Life is short and we're family. I hope she decides to do the right thing this time.'