Meghan Markle Confirms Her Father Won’t Walk Her Down the Aisle

0
223


LONDON — After weeks of media speculation, Meghan Markle confirmed on Thursday that her father would not be walking her down the aisle on Saturday at her wedding to Prince Harry.

Ms. Markle, an American actress, released a statement that suggested her father, Thomas Markle, was having health issues.

“I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health,” said Ms. Markle, who is said to have been estranged from her father after her parents’ divorce. The two had reconciled, and Mr. Markle was planning to attend his daughter’s wedding.

But he was quickly ensnared in a paparazzi scandal when the Mail on Sunday reported that he had collaborated with a photographer to stage pictures of him preparing for the big day, including some that showed him browsing through a book of photographs of British landmarks.

The celebrity website TMZ reported on Monday that Mr. Markle would not attend the wedding. According to the report, Mr. Markle had planned until the scandal to travel to Britain despite suffering from heart troubles. But following the revelations he said he would not go because he did not want to embarrass the royal family or his daughter.

Kensington Palace issued a statement at the time asking for “understanding and respect.” It has not referred to any specific health condition.

Ms. Markle’s statement on Thursday started immediate discussion about who would walk her down the aisle instead. Guesses on Twitter included her mother, Doria Ragland, a yoga instructor and social worker; and Prince Charles, her future father-in-law.

Mr. Markle, a 73-year-old former Hollywood lighting director, was to fly from his home in Mexico for the wedding at Windsor Castle.

Prince Harry’s first meeting with Mr. Markle was to have been this week.



Source : Nytimes