Why Meghan Markle’s wedding day is going to feel a bit lonely

NO PROPER bridesmaids, no father to walk her down the aisle. Things are shaping up to be pretty lonely for the bride.

JUST four days out from her wedding to Prince Harry, Meghan Markle has been rocked by news her father Thomas Markle has pulled out of attending.

It’s hardly surprising: the famously reclusive former TV lighting director has been embarrassed on the world stage this week, following revelations he helped set up a series of paparazzi photos in his Mexican hometown, reportedly earning himself around $180,000. There are also reports Thomas, 73, may have suffered a heart attack less than a week ago.

Thomas Markle has reportedly bailed on the wedding. Picture by: Mark Kreusch/Splash News

His cancellation means the Markles will be wildly under-represented. In fact, it appears that Meghan has left pretty much all of her family off the wedding guest list — something her half-brother and half-sister have been very vocal about.

As a result, Meghan has been left without anyone to walk her down the aisle at St George’s Chapel — on a day when billions of pairs of eyes will be firmly trained on her.

And the future royal is clearly struggling with it.

Kensington Palace issued a statement this morning 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.”

According to the Daily Mail, Meghan is “distraught” over the news.

“This is not what she wants. She obviously wants her dad there. And the idea of contemplating him not being there now is not something that she wants to have to do,” a source told the publication.

A baby Meghan with her dad. Picture: Instagram

It’s a sad turn of events for the former Suits star, who — rather than desperately hunting for someone to escort her into her own wedding — should be buzzing as the climax to her fairytale royal romance inches closer.

This latest disappointment for Meghan may have been a bit easier to cope with had it not been for the fact that her bridal party was already looking very bare. After all, every bride knows things can go wrong close to the day — and usually they’ve got their best girl friends around to support them.

Even Harry has his brother William alongside him as his best man.

But Meghan will be going it alone.

Plenty of people were surprised to discover that she’d decided against having any of her friends in the bridal party. Even Kate Middleton had her sister Pippa alongside her for her wedding to Prince William in 2011.

“The bridesmaids and page boys are all children. Ms Markle will not have a maid of honour. She has a very close group of friends and didn’t want to choose one over the other,” a spokesman for Harry and Meghan explained in early May.

There won’t be an adult bridesmaid on hand to provide this kind of service for Meghan. Picture: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

There’s still no word on exactly who the children involved will be, but what’s certain is that they won’t be providing the support a bride really needs on the day — like handing her a sneaky pre-ceremony champagne when things get a little overwhelming.

And it’s hard to imagine there’ll be much comfort for Meghan when she gazes out at the crowd within the chapel.

In fact, a roll call of which members of Meghan’s family will actually be there doesn’t take long. As far as we know, of the 600 guests at the actual ceremony, it’ll be only her mother Doria Ragland sitting in her relatives’ section.

Certainly, Meghan’s close bond with Doria will be a huge comfort to her this week. It’s already been announced that the yoga instructor, 61, will spend the night before the wedding with her daughter at the luxurious Cliveden House, before travelling with her on the big day to nearby Windsor Castle.

However, given her dad’s last-minute cancellation, Doria’s likely to be getting a promotion — plenty of punters are tipping her as next choice to walk Meghan down the aisle.

Doria and Meghan have an incredibly close bond. Picture: Facebook

Prince Charles, her future father-in-law, has also been suggested as an option.

A wedding day is supposed to be one of the happiest occasions of a bride and groom’s life. Sadly, plenty of shadows have been cast over the royal ceremony already — and with barely any loved ones surrounding Meghan on the big day, it’s likely to be tinged with loneliness.

Harry and Meghan are just days away from their wedding. Picture: AP Photo/Matt Dunham