Meghan Markle’s father Thomas pulls out of wedding

Thomas Markle has withdrawn from Harry and Meghan’s wedding, saying he doesn’t want to embarrass the royal family.

Harry and Meghan Markle visit Cardiff in January. Picture: AFP

In a deeply troubling development just days before the royal wedding, Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle has withdrawn from attending the nuptials and walking her down the aisle.

There is confusion about why he will not attend, with Mr Markle saying he suffered a heart attack six days ago and did not want to run the risk of embarrassing his daughter or the royal family. This comes just days after he was shown to be co-operating with the paparazzi in several staged photos that were broadcast around the world.

Kensington Palace released 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.”

Thomas Markle drops off flowers at the home of Meghan's mother Doria Ragland. Picture: MEGA.

Mr Markle explained the reason he co-operated with the photographer was to ensure he had more flattering photographs taken of him.

He said he had a heart attack but journalists who have been outside Mr Markle’s house in Rosito, Mexico have reported that on the day of the heart attack he didn’t seek medical attention and two days after the medical scare, he was eating McDonalds.

Mr Markle announced his decision to bypass the wedding in an interview with TMZ, which caught the palace unawares. He told the American publication that he’s been ambushed by paparazzi who have photographed him in the most unflattering circumstances — buying beer, looking dishevelled and reclusive.

”He’s especially upset that they made him look like a lush,’’ TMZ said, especially as he doesn’t drink beer and was buying it for the guards at his residence. He also said he had been offered up to $100,000 for interview and he turned them down.

He says the pictures that were taken with his co-operation look “stupid and hammy’’ and he deeply regrets doing them.

Ms Markle’s mother Doria Ragland may now walk her down the aisle but there has been no announcement about this from the Palace..

Meanwhile other members of Ms Markle’s family who have not been invited to the wedding have arrived in London, ready for a series of interviews on British television.

Bearing The Queen's signature, the Instrument of Consent records Her Majesty's consent to the Marriage of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle. #RoyalWedding

Find out more: https://t.co/KNUnxl0hUj pic.twitter.com/wsXTt4FzAn

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 13, 2018

Markle’s snub for uncles

Prince Harry and Meghan ­Markle are believed to have ­delivered a wedding day snub to minor royals, two of her siblings and three of her ­uncles.

There has been no comment from Kensington Palace after Ms Markle’s father, Thomas, staged photographs with the ­paparazzi when the palace had been demanding the media leave him alone. However, royal sources have confirmed that Mr Markle will still walk Meghan down the aisle on Saturday.

Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas jnr, who has not been invited following his claims she was “jaded, shallow and conceited’’, insisted the photographs had embarrassed the family.

He said the family had been under intense pressure since it became public that Meghan was dating Harry in late 2016. “Everyone has secrets and ghosts in the closet, and hatred. It’s a normal family, but this has brought a lot of stuff to the surface,” he said.

Meghan’s sister Samantha has also not been invited. She has threatened to write a satirical book titled Princess Pushy’s Sister. Other Markle family members have come forward expressing disappointment they had not made the guest list, including uncle Tom Markle, who helped Meghan launch her acting career. Another uncle, Fred, a ­bishop, has been sidelined too, as has Meghan’s uncle on her mother’s side, Joseph Johnson.

The furore has swirled in royal circles too, with Harry’s cousins, Lady Amelia Windsor, 22, a model, and her 25-year-old sister, Marina, not invited.

The couple have not invited any political friends, including Barack and Michelle Obama. British Prime Minister Theresa May has also not been invited. It is believed the couple also instituted a “no ring, no bring’’ policy, so any unmarried partners of invited guests will have to watch proceedings from home.

About 600 people have been invited to the noon wedding in Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel. Only 200 people have been invited to a formal evening function to be paid for by Prince Charles.