Will Meghan Markle's Family Be At The Wedding?

Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry was a major event, but in the days leading up to it, unexpected family drama unfolded. Markle's father, Thomas Markle, was initially set to walk her down the aisle, but he decided not to attend the wedding after it was revealed that he had staged several photoshoots with paparazzi. Markle's half-siblings, Samantha and Thomas Markle Jr., were also not invited to the wedding, as Markle had no real relationship with them. The absence of any Markle family members at the royal wedding caused speculation and commentary from a royal biographer, adding to the attention surrounding the event.

Meghan's father, Thomas Markle, was set to walk her down the aisle but decided not to attend

Meghan Markle's father, Thomas Markle, was initially set to walk her down the aisle at her wedding to Prince Harry. However, just days before the wedding, it was revealed that Thomas had conspired with paparazzi to stage several photoshoots ahead of the big day. This caused a media frenzy, as the palace had previously issued multiple pleas for the media to leave Thomas alone and respect his privacy.

Thomas Markle's collaboration with the paparazzi created a lot of drama and uncertainty around who would walk Meghan down the aisle. On Monday before the wedding, Thomas backed out, telling TMZ that he didn't want to embarrass Meghan or the royal family. He argued that he posed for the photos to improve his media portrayal and not for financial gain. He also mentioned that he had recently suffered a heart attack and was experiencing severe chest pains.

The next day, Thomas changed his mind again, expressing his desire to be a part of history and walk his daughter down the aisle. However, he still had concerns about his health and was unsure if he would be able to travel to England for the wedding. Unfortunately, on Wednesday, Thomas confirmed that he would not be able to attend, as he was undergoing heart surgery to clear blockages, repair damage, and insert a stent.

Meghan released a statement on Thursday, confirming that her father would not be attending the wedding. She expressed her love and concern for her father and thanked everyone for their supportive messages. Ultimately, Meghan's future father-in-law, Prince Charles, stepped in to walk her down the aisle.

Thomas Markle's staged photoshoots with paparazzi caused controversy before the wedding

Thomas Markle, Meghan Markle's father, caused controversy before her wedding to Prince Harry by staging photoshoots with the paparazzi. Markle Sr. was photographed in an internet cafe reading about his daughter's relationship with Prince Harry, as well as looking through a book of British landmarks. Other photos allegedly showed him being fitted for a suit and working out. These photos were sold for as much as £100,000, although it is unclear how much of this sum went to Thomas Markle.

Security footage obtained by the Daily Mail revealed that the photos were staged. The footage showed Thomas Markle and photographer Jeff Rayner entering an internet cafe in Mexico together, with Rayner adjusting the screen to capture a better angle of Markle. Rayner was also seen paying for the time at the end of the photoshoot.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan Markle opened up about the betrayal she felt after learning that her father had secretly worked with the press to stage these photoshoots. She recalled a brutal phone call with her father after the story broke, in which she offered to help him if he would just tell her the truth. She also expressed concern that if the royal family intervened to kill the story, they wouldn't be able to protect their future children from similar media attacks.

The controversy surrounding Thomas Markle's staged photoshoots added to the already intense media scrutiny surrounding Meghan Markle and her family in the lead-up to the royal wedding. It also raised questions about the boundaries between the press and the privacy of public figures and their families.

Meghan's half-sister, Samantha Markle, claimed responsibility for the photoshoot idea

Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry was a major event, not just for the couple but also for the entire royal family and their fans worldwide. However, the days leading up to the wedding were filled with unexpected family drama for Meghan. One notable incident involved her father, Thomas Markle, who was initially set to walk her down the aisle. Unfortunately, it was revealed that Thomas had conspired with paparazzi to stage several photoshoots ahead of the wedding, which went against the palace's pleas to the media for privacy.

This incident caused a media frenzy, and Meghan's half-sister, Samantha Markle (also known as Samantha Grant), claimed responsibility for the photoshoot idea. In an interview with ITV's Loose Women, Samantha explained that she suggested the photoshoot to her father to counter negative media portrayals of him. She argued that it was not financially motivated but rather an attempt to ensure he was depicted in a positive and healthy light. Samantha believed it would benefit both Thomas and the royal family.

Samantha's admission added fuel to the fire of the "Markle family drama" that was unfolding in the public eye. The staged photoshoots caused a significant amount of embarrassment for Meghan and the royal family, leading Thomas to ultimately decide not to attend the wedding. This decision caused further turmoil, as Meghan had to navigate the challenge of having her father absent on her big day.

The drama surrounding the photoshoots and Thomas's attendance was just one aspect of the family turmoil leading up to the wedding. Meghan's half-siblings, including Samantha and Thomas Markle Jr., were not invited to the wedding, likely due to the lack of a close relationship with Meghan. The lead-up to the wedding was marked by public criticism and strong words from Samantha and Thomas Jr. towards Prince Harry and the royal family.

Meghan's half-siblings, Samantha and Thomas Markle Jr., were not invited to the wedding

Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry was a grand affair, but it was not without its fair share of family drama. Markle's half-siblings, Samantha and Thomas Markle Jr., were notably not invited to the wedding. This decision caused some controversy, with Samantha Markle, Meghan's half-sister, speaking out against the actress for not inviting her family to the royal wedding.

Samantha and Thomas Markle Jr. are Meghan's older half-siblings from her father's first marriage. According to a source close to Meghan, "Meghan has no relationship with her half-siblings, nor has she ever had one. They were out of the house by the time she was born." This lack of relationship and closeness is likely the reason why they were not included in the wedding celebrations.

The lead-up to the wedding was marked by a series of back-and-forth decisions by Meghan's father, Thomas Markle, about his attendance. He initially intended to walk his daughter down the aisle, but his plans changed after it was revealed that he had staged several photoshoots with paparazzi photographers. Thomas Markle ultimately decided not to attend the wedding due to health issues, citing chest pains and heart surgery as the reasons for his absence.

The absence of Meghan's half-siblings and the last-minute changes regarding her father's attendance created a unique dynamic at the wedding. With very few Markles in attendance, the focus shifted to Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, who served as a constant support for her daughter throughout the celebrations.

Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, attended the wedding and spent the night before with Meghan

Meghan Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, attended her daughter's wedding to Prince Harry in 2018. The night before the wedding, Doria spent the evening with Meghan at Cliveden House Hotel, after meeting Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip for the first time at Windsor Castle. The following morning, Doria travelled with Meghan to St. George's Chapel in a red Rolls-Royce.

Doria's presence at the wedding was especially important as Meghan's father did not attend. Despite speculation that Doria would walk her daughter down the aisle, Meghan chose to walk solo, later being joined by Prince Charles halfway to the altar. Doria's role as the mother-of-the-bride was highlighted by her choice of outfit: a bespoke pale green dress and day coat designed by the creative directors of Oscar de la Renta, Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim. She accessorised with a custom Stephen Jones hat and Aquazzara heels.

Doria has been a constant presence in Meghan's life, supporting her through milestone moments such as the birth of her son Archie in 2019, and now, as a grandmother, she is closer than ever to her daughter and grandchildren. The two have a strong mother-daughter bond, with Meghan drawing a lot of strength from her mother. Doria's residence in California is not far from Meghan and Prince Harry's home in Montecito, allowing her to be actively involved in her grandchildren's lives.

Frequently asked questions