Megan's Wedding: Family Affair Or Solo Show?

Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry in 2018 was a grand affair, with 600 guests in attendance at St. George's Chapel, and over 2,000 others on the grounds of Windsor Castle. However, the event was marked by drama involving Meghan's family. Her father, Thomas Markle, was initially set to walk her down the aisle, but staged paparazzi photos and health issues led to him backing out of the wedding. Meghan's half-siblings, Samantha and Thomas Markle Jr., were also not invited, and her nephews Tyler and TJ Dooley, though present in the UK, were not invited either. The only member of Meghan's family who attended the wedding without any drama was her mother, Doria Ragland.

Meghan's father, Thomas Markle, does not attend the wedding

In the days leading up to Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry, there was much speculation about whether her father, Thomas Markle, would attend the wedding and walk her down the aisle. Ultimately, Thomas Markle did not attend the wedding, and Prince Charles walked Meghan down the aisle instead.

The decision for Thomas Markle not to attend the wedding was made just two days before the wedding. In an official statement released by Kensington Palace, Meghan confirmed that her father would not be in attendance due to health problems. She expressed her love and concern for her father and asked that he be given the space to focus on his health.

Thomas Markle's absence from the wedding was due to a combination of health issues and a controversy involving staged paparazzi photos. Thomas Markle, who lives in Mexico, had collaborated with a paparazzi photographer to stage several photoshoots ahead of the wedding. This revelation caused embarrassment and prompted him to bow out of the wedding to avoid causing further distress to Meghan and the royal family.

Thomas Markle's health issues included a reported heart attack and severe chest pains. He underwent heart surgery on the morning of the wedding and was unable to travel. Meghan's half-sister, Samantha Markle, claimed responsibility for the staged photos, saying she suggested the idea to improve her father's image in the media.

Despite the challenges, Meghan and Prince Harry's wedding took place as planned, with Prince Charles stepping in to accompany Meghan down the aisle. The couple expressed their gratitude for the support and looked forward to sharing their special day with those in attendance.

Thomas Markle stages paparazzi photoshoots

In the lead-up to Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry, her father, Thomas Markle, was at the centre of a scandal involving staged paparazzi photos.

Thomas Markle, who lives in Mexico, had been the subject of intense media interest since his daughter's engagement to Prince Harry was announced. Despite repeated requests for privacy, Thomas conspired with the paparazzi to stage several photoshoots. The photos included Thomas looking at news about the royal wedding in an internet cafe, reading a book called "Images of Great Britain" in a branch of Starbucks, and being measured for a suit. It was later revealed that the so-called "tailor" was actually an employee from a neighbouring business.

Thomas Markle's motivation for staging the photos remains a subject of debate. Some reports claimed that he was financially motivated, while others suggested he wanted to take control of the way he was presented in the media. In an interview with Good Morning Britain, Thomas Markle expressed regret for his actions, saying, "I wish I hadn't done the whole thing." He also claimed that he felt abandoned by the royal family and that the constant press attention had made him feel unprotected.

The scandal ultimately led to Thomas Markle not attending Meghan's wedding. In an official statement, Meghan confirmed that her father would not be walking her down the aisle due to health problems. She expressed her love and concern for her father and asked for privacy during this challenging time.

Meghan's half-sister Samantha Markle claims responsibility for the photos

Meghan Markle's half-sister, Samantha Markle, has claimed responsibility for the staged paparazzi photos involving their father, Thomas Markle. Samantha Markle, who is 17 years older than Meghan and shares the same father, Thomas, has been the most vocal member of the Markle family, often speaking out about her half-sister in the press.

In an interview with ITV's Loose Women, Samantha revealed that she had suggested the idea of posing for photographs to her father, Thomas Markle, in order to take control of the way he was portrayed in the media. She explained that Thomas had been unhappy with the previously published photos of himself, feeling that they painted him in a negative light. Samantha also refuted claims that her father was financially motivated to stage the photoshoots, stating that he was not paid or received only a small amount.

Samantha took full responsibility for the idea, saying, "I have to say I am entirely the culprit... I said, 'really, you need to show the world that you're getting in shape and doing great, healthy things.' So I suggested it." She further added that her suggestion was intended to benefit both her father and the royal family, presenting them in a positive and healthy light.

The revelation of Thomas Markle's collaboration with paparazzi photographers caused a stir ahead of Meghan's wedding, as it contradicted the palace's multiple pleas to the media to respect Thomas's privacy. Thomas Markle ultimately decided not to attend the wedding to avoid embarrassing Meghan and the royal family. He cited health reasons, including a reported heart attack, as the main factor in his decision.

Samantha Markle has had a strained relationship with Meghan, with reports of unkind comments and criticism towards her half-sister. Despite this, Samantha has expressed her love for Meghan and apologized for any hurt feelings within the family. She has also denied smearing her sister in the press, claiming that her words were taken out of context. Samantha's book, "The Diary of Princess Pushy's Sister," is described as a nuanced and warm portrayal of her family, including Meghan.

Thomas Markle undergoes heart surgery

Thomas Markle, father of Meghan Markle, underwent heart surgery just days before her wedding to Prince Harry. Markle had been set to walk his daughter down the aisle, but it was revealed that he had staged several photoshoots with a paparazzi photographer before the wedding. Markle then decided not to attend the wedding, citing his health as the reason for his absence. He claimed to have suffered a heart attack and said he needed to undergo surgery to clear a blocked artery.

Markle's heart issues caused a great deal of drama in the days leading up to the royal wedding. Initially, it was reported that he would walk his daughter down the aisle. However, after the revelation that he had conspired with paparazzi, Markle backed out of the wedding, not wanting to cause further embarrassment to his daughter and the royal family. He told TMZ, "I hate the idea of missing one of the greatest moments in history and walking my daughter down the aisle... Of course I'd walk her down the aisle. This is a historic moment. I'd like to be a part of history."

However, Markle's story began to fall apart as sources close to Meghan claimed that he had faked his heart surgery to get out of attending the wedding. The Daily Mail reported that the hospital where Markle claimed to have had his surgery said that "no such name" had ever checked in. Additionally, photos emerged of Markle getting fast food just two days after his supposed heart surgery.

Despite the controversy, Meghan released a statement expressing her love and support for her father. She said, "Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding. I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health... Please know how much Harry and I look forward to sharing our special day with you on Saturday."

Meghan's half-siblings are not invited to the wedding

Meghans half-siblings are not invited to the wedding

In the lead-up to the royal wedding between Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, there was much speculation about whether Meghan's half-siblings would be in attendance. Ultimately, it was confirmed that they were not invited to the wedding, and there were several reasons given for their absence.

Firstly, it was reported that Meghan had no relationship with her half-siblings, Samantha and Thomas Markle Jr., as they were out of the house by the time she was born. This lack of a relationship likely contributed to the decision not to invite them to the wedding.

Secondly, Meghan's half-siblings had stirred up drama in the past year leading up to the wedding. Thomas Markle Jr., Meghan's half-brother, wrote a scathing letter to Prince Harry, which was published in In Touch. In the letter, Thomas Jr. stated that Meghan's father, Thomas Markle Sr., had not received an invitation to the wedding. However, this was later refuted by Kensington Palace when they announced that Thomas Sr. would be walking Meghan down the aisle.

Meghan's half-sister, Samantha, also made public statements about the royal family. She fired back at Prince Harry after he called the royals the family that Meghan had "never had". Samantha defended their father, saying that he was "amazing and completely self-sacrificing". She also claimed that she was behind the posed photographs of Thomas Sr. that were conspired with paparazzi, saying that she wanted to show him in a positive light and take control of the way he was presented in the media.

With all the drama and lack of relationship between Meghan and her half-siblings, it is not surprising that they were not invited to the wedding. The wedding was already highly publicised and had a large guest list, including 600 guests in St. George's Chapel and over 2,000 others on the grounds of Windsor Castle.

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