Why Meghan Markle’s father has pulled out of the royal wedding
Just days before he was due to walk his daughter down the aisle, Meghan Markle’s father Thomas Markle will no longer be attending the royal wedding.
According to TMZ, Mr Markle’s decision to pull out of the wedding is partly due to the fallout of reports that he staged paparazzi photos of himself ahead of the wedding, and partly because he suffered a heart attack six days ago, although he had checked himself out of the hospital in order to attend the royal wedding.
Kensington Palace has issued a statement saying, “This is a deeply personal moment for Ms Markle in the days before her wedding. She and Prince Harry ask again for understanding and respect to be extended to Mr Markle in this difficult situation.”
Mr Markle told TMZ that the “staged” pictures – which showed him getting fitted for his wedding outfit, reading a book about Great Britain, and browsing pictures of Meghan and Harry – looked “stupid and hammy” but said that he “meant no harm”. He said he was trying to change his image after being papped in various unflattering circumstances since his daughter’s relationship with Harry was revealed.
“Thomas says the paparazzi agency approached him, offered him money — though nowhere near the reported $100k — and he figured there was no harm in it and it would help recast his image,” TMZ reports.
He says that his motivation in posing for the photographs was not financial, and that he has turned down several paid interview requests.
But earlier today, the estranged half-sister of Meghan Markle took responsibility for the “staged” paparazzi photos of her father.
In a tweet, Ms Markle — who attracted headlines in the past when she announced she was planning a tell-all book called The Diary of Princess Pushy’s Sister — claimed it was her idea for her father to be photographed in a series of royal wedding shoots, in order to paint him in a “positive” light ahead of the ceremony.
But after the backlash, Mr Markle says he will not attend the royal event because he does not want to embarrass Meghan or the royal family.
Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, will be staying at a hotel with her daughter the night before the royal wedding.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will tie the knot on May 19 at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.