Mahgan's Wedding: Father Snubbed, Why?

Meghan Markle's father, Thomas Markle, was not invited to her wedding to Prince Harry. This was due to a photo scandal, in which Thomas was caught staging paparazzi photos in Mexico just days before the wedding. Meghan's half-sister, Samantha Markle, took the blame for the scandal, but Thomas ultimately decided not to walk Meghan down the aisle, citing a heart attack. Meghan was reportedly hurt and humiliated by her father's absence, but understood his need to focus on his health. The incident caused a strain in Meghan's relationship with her family, and she has been estranged from Thomas and Samantha since the wedding.

Thomas Markle's absence from the wedding

The absence of Thomas Markle, Meghan Markle's father, from her wedding to Prince Harry was a notable event that sparked media attention and speculation. In the lead-up to the royal wedding, Markle's father was involved in a paparazzi scandal, where he staged photos with the press. This created a rift in their relationship, and Thomas ultimately did not walk his daughter down the aisle as expected.

Thomas Markle, a retired lighting director, expressed his desire to be part of the wedding and walk Meghan down the aisle. However, his actions in the public eye before the wedding caused a strain on their relationship. Markle's father admitted to conspiring with a photographer to stage paparazzi photos, which he later regretted. He also suffered a heart attack due to the stresses of the situation and decided to back out of the wedding to avoid causing further embarrassment to his daughter and the Royal Family.

In an interview with "Good Morning Britain," Thomas Markle apologised for staging the photos and expressed his regret at not being able to walk his daughter down the aisle. He also shared his feelings of jealousy and thanked Prince Charles for stepping in. Despite the challenges, he was grateful for how the wedding turned out.

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, was reportedly “humiliated” by her father's absence and hurt that he backed out of walking her down the aisle. She released a statement through Kensington Palace, confirming her father's absence due to health reasons and asking for privacy and respect for his well-being.

The decision for Thomas Markle not to attend the wedding was a difficult one, and it continued to have repercussions for their relationship even after the wedding. Markle's father made several public pleas for her to get in touch, but the Duchess of Sussex reportedly wanted time apart from him due to his media interviews against Palace wishes.

Meghan Markle's statement about her father's absence

Meghan Markle's father, Thomas Markle Sr., was notably absent from her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018. In the lead-up to the wedding, Thomas Markle was embroiled in controversy after it was revealed that he had staged paparazzi photos. He admitted to conspiring with a photographer to pose for a series of staged photos, which he later claimed was an attempt to improve his image.

Amid the media frenzy surrounding the situation, Thomas Markle suffered a heart attack and decided to withdraw from the wedding to avoid causing further embarrassment to his daughter and the Royal Family. Meghan Markle released a statement through Kensington Palace, confirming her father's absence and expressing her hope that he could focus on his health. She wrote:

> "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. I would like to thank everyone who has offered generous messages of support. Please know how much Harry and I look forward to sharing our special day with you on Saturday."

Despite the disappointment, Meghan Markle reportedly still hoped that her father would attend the wedding. According to the book "Finding Freedom," Meghan was "humiliated" by her father's absence and hurt that he backed out of walking her down the aisle. In an interview with "Good Morning Britain," Thomas Markle expressed regret at not being able to walk his daughter down the aisle, saying:

> "I regretted it because I really wanted to walk her down the aisle. But I'm thankful for how it all went...It was a very emotional moment...I can't think of a better replacement than Prince Charles...I was jealous, I wish it was me, but thank God he was there and I thank him for that."

Thomas Markle's paparazzi photo scandal

The lead-up to the royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry was marred by a scandal involving Thomas Markle, Meghan's father, and the press. Thomas Markle was accused of staging paparazzi photos in the months before the wedding, which took place on May 19, 2018.

The scandal began when the UK's Mail on Sunday claimed that Thomas Markle had been participating in staged photo shoots to help improve his image. These included shots of him being fitted for a suit. Thomas Markle later admitted to the conspiracy, confirming that he had worked with a photographer to pose for a series of staged paparazzi photos.

Thomas Markle's motivation for staging these photos was to change his public image. He felt that the media had been portraying him in a negative light for a year, taking pictures that made him look like a "hermit hiding out in Mexico." He thought that by staging photos, he could present himself in a more positive light. However, he later realised that this was a serious mistake and apologised to Meghan and Harry for his error in judgment.

The scandal had significant consequences for the wedding. Thomas Markle decided to withdraw from walking his daughter down the aisle, stating that he did not want to "embarrass the Royal Family or his daughter." He also cited health reasons, as he had suffered a heart attack the week before the wedding. In the end, Prince Charles walked Meghan down the aisle.

The paparazzi photo scandal also contributed to the ongoing estrangement between Thomas Markle and his daughter. Meghan was reportedly humiliated and hurt by her father's actions and the negative press attention it brought. In the months following the wedding, Thomas Markle continued to give press interviews, revealing private conversations and breaching royal protocol. These actions further damaged his relationship with Meghan, and the pair were reportedly not in contact when their grandson Archie was born in May 2019.

Prince Charles walking Meghan Markle down the aisle

In a break from royal tradition, Prince Charles walked Meghan Markle down the aisle at her wedding to Prince Harry. This was due to the absence of Meghan's father, Thomas Markle Sr., who was unable to attend due to health reasons.

On May 19, 2018, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry tied the knot at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. In the days leading up to the wedding, it was confirmed that Meghan's father, Thomas Markle Sr., would not be in attendance. Thomas Sr. had been facing health struggles and had suffered a heart attack. He also admitted to conspiring with a photographer to pose for staged paparazzi photos, which caused embarrassment and negative press attention.

As a result, Meghan asked Prince Charles, her future father-in-law, to accompany her down the aisle. This was a significant departure from tradition, as it is uncommon for a member of the groom's family to walk the bride down the aisle, especially in royal weddings. The role is typically reserved for someone from the bride's family or a close friend, or the bride may choose to walk alone.

On the wedding day, Meghan started her walk down the aisle solo, before meeting Prince Charles halfway to the altar. They exchanged smiles as they walked the rest of the way together. When Prince Charles greeted his son, Prince Harry, he smiled and said, "Thank you, Pa."

The decision for Prince Charles to walk Meghan down the aisle was a sign of solidarity and support for the royal couple from the British monarchy. It also demonstrated that Meghan had been fully embraced by the royal family. Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, was also in attendance, travelling with her daughter to Windsor Castle.

Despite the last-minute changes, the wedding ceremony proceeded with grace and joy, marking a memorable chapter in the lives of Meghan and Prince Harry.

Thomas Markle's strained relationship with his daughter

Thomas Markle's relationship with his daughter Meghan has been strained for several reasons, leading to him not being invited to her wedding to Prince Harry. One of the main issues was Thomas' involvement with the media in the lead-up to the wedding. He admitted to conspiring with a photographer to pose for a series of staged paparazzi photos, which caused embarrassment for Meghan and the Royal Family. Thomas also gave interviews to the media, including one to TMZ just two days before the wedding, in which he claimed he was not attending to avoid causing his daughter further embarrassment.

Thomas' health was also a concern, as he suffered a heart attack the week before the wedding and underwent surgery, which meant he was unable to travel. Meghan released a statement through Kensington Palace, saying that her father would not be attending the wedding due to his health issues and asking for respect for his privacy.

In the months following the wedding, Thomas continued to give interviews to the media, revealing private conversations with Harry and sharing details about his relationship with Meghan. This further strained their relationship, and Meghan reportedly wanted time away from her father to focus on her new role within the Royal Family.

Thomas has expressed regret for his actions and has made several public pleas for Meghan to get in touch with him. He has also apologised to Meghan and Harry for his involvement with the paparazzi, acknowledging that it was a serious mistake. Despite the difficulties, Thomas has stated that he loves Meghan and Harry and wishes them well.

Frequently asked questions