Lyla Dejesus
Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry was one of the most highly-anticipated events of 2018. However, the lead-up to the big day was fraught with family drama, with much speculation about which of Markle's family members would be in attendance. Markle's father, Thomas Markle, was initially set to walk his daughter down the aisle, but he ultimately decided not to attend the wedding due to health issues and a controversy surrounding staged paparazzi photoshoots. Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, was the only confirmed member of her family expected to attend.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Wedding | May 19 |
| Bride | Meghan Markle |
| Groom | Prince Harry |
| Bride's Father | Thomas Markle |
| Bride's Mother | Doria Ragland |
| Bride's Half-Sister | Samantha Markle |
| Bride's Nephews | Tyler Dooley, TJ Dooley |
| Bride's Former Sister-in-Law | Tracy Dooley |
| Father Attending | No |
| Mother Attending | Yes |
| Half-Sister Attending | No |
| Nephews Attending | No |
| Former Sister-in-Law Attending | No |
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What You'll Learn
Thomas Markle's absence
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. It was later confirmed by Kensington Palace that Thomas Markle would not be attending the wedding.
Initially, Thomas Markle was set to walk his daughter down the aisle at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. However, it was revealed that he had staged photographs in cooperation with a paparazzi, which caused embarrassment for Meghan and the royal family. Thomas Markle spoke to TMZ, expressing his decision to bow out of the wedding to avoid causing further embarrassment. He also revealed that he was undergoing heart surgery, which would prevent him from travelling to England for the wedding.
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Doria Ragland's attendance
Meghan Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, was the only member of Meghan's family to attend her wedding to Prince Harry. Doria arrived in London in the week of the wedding, spending time before the big day meeting Harry's relatives and the couple's closest friends.
Doria's attendance was never in question, but the same could not be said for Meghan's father, Thomas Markle. Thomas initially planned to walk Meghan down the aisle, but later decided not to attend the wedding after it was revealed he had staged several photoshoots with paparazzi ahead of the big day. Thomas told TMZ that he didn't want to embarrass Meghan or the royal family and that he was undergoing heart surgery, which would rule out the possibility of him attending. Meghan confirmed her father's absence, saying she wanted him to focus on his health.
With Thomas officially not attending, it was unclear who would walk Meghan down the aisle. Many assumed it would be Doria, though others suggested Prince Charles or Prince Philip. Ultimately, Prince Charles gave Meghan away during the ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.
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Samantha Markle's media appearances
Samantha Markle, Meghan Markle's half-sister, has appeared in the media several times to discuss her relationship with Meghan and the royal family. Meghan and her family have been estranged for years, with Samantha calling Meghan "shallow" and a "social climber" in the press.
In the lead-up to Meghan's wedding to Prince Harry, Samantha told Vanity Fair that she had not received an invitation to the wedding, expressing sadness on behalf of the extended family. Samantha also made headlines when she appeared on the front page of The Sun after Meghan's engagement to Harry, warning him, "Don't fall for my little sis, Harry, she'll be the next Princess Pushy."
Samantha has continued to make headlines with her criticism of Meghan and her family. She has appeared on numerous talk shows and podcasts, including Fox News, to discuss her half-sister and the royal family. In March 2021, Samantha sued Meghan for defamation, claiming that Meghan had spread "demonstrably false and malicious lies" during her and Harry's interview with Oprah Winfrey. A U.S. court dismissed the case, stating that Samantha's opinion was not capable of being proven false. Despite the dismissal, Samantha continues to voice her opinions and conjecture about Meghan and the royal family in the media.
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Speculation over who will walk Meghan down the aisle
In the lead-up to Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry, there was much speculation over whether her father, Thomas Markle, would walk her down the aisle. Initially, it was believed that Thomas would fulfil this traditional role. However, just days before the wedding, it was revealed that Thomas had staged photographs in cooperation with a paparazzi, and he decided to bow out of the wedding to avoid embarrassing Meghan or the royal family. Thomas also cited health concerns, as he was undergoing heart surgery just days before the wedding, recovering from a heart attack, and experiencing chest pains.
Amid the uncertainty surrounding Thomas' attendance, there was much speculation over who would walk Meghan down the aisle. Many assumed it would be her mother, Doria Ragland, who was the only member of Meghan's family confirmed to be attending the wedding. However, some also speculated that Prince Charles or Prince Philip might step in, as Prince Philip had accompanied Princess Margaret in 1960 after her father, King George, had passed away.
In the end, Kensington Palace announced that "Ms. Markle has asked His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales [Prince Charles] to accompany her down the aisle of the Quire of St. George's Chapel on her Wedding Day." This decision was made just a day before the wedding, as Meghan had previously stated that she needed more time to consider who would walk her down the aisle.
Despite the last-minute changes, the wedding ceremony proceeded smoothly, with Prince Charles proudly giving the bride away during the ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. While Thomas Markle's absence was unfortunate, Meghan was grateful for the support and understanding shown by both her family and the royal family during this difficult situation.
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Prince Harry's mother's siblings' attendance
Prince Harry's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, had two siblings: Earl Spencer and Lady Jane Fellowes. Lady Sarah McCorquodale is also mentioned as a sibling of Princess Diana, although it is not clear whether she was a half-sibling or a full sibling. All three were invited to Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle, so that his late mother would be well-represented. Lady Jane Fellowes was also given a special role in the ceremony.
Prince Harry's mother's side of the family also includes the Barons Fermoy and, anciently, Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton, and Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond, who were both illegitimate sons of King Charles II.
In the lead-up to the wedding, there was much speculation about which of Meghan Markle's family would be attending. Markle's father, Thomas Markle, was initially set to walk his daughter down the aisle, but he decided not to attend the wedding after it was revealed that he had staged several photoshoots with a paparazzi photographer ahead of the big day. Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, was the only member of her family to attend the wedding.
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Frequently asked questions
The only member of Meghan Markle's family to attend her wedding was her mother, Doria Ragland.
Meghan Markle's father, Thomas Markle, decided not to attend the wedding after it was revealed that he had staged several photoshoots with a paparazzi before the wedding. Thomas Markle also cited health issues, including a heart attack, as reasons for his absence.
No, Meghan Markle was estranged from her paternal half-siblings, Samantha Markle and Thomas Markle Jr., and they were not in attendance at the wedding.
Meghan Markle reportedly did not invite many relatives to her wedding, and it was mostly attended by her Hollywood friends.
No, Meghan Markle's mother was the only member of her family in attendance. However, Meghan's former sister-in-law Tracy Dooley and her sons, Meghan's nephews, Tyler and TJ Dooley, were spotted in London around the time of the wedding.
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