Meghan’s dad WILL walk her down aisle
Moving service will also celebrate late mum Diana Meg folks get audience with Queen & Royal Family Philip may miss chapel as he recovers from hip op
MEGHAN Markle’s parents will meet the Queen in the days before their daughter’s wedding to Prince Harry, it was announced yesterday.
Kensington Palace confirmed her father Thomas Markle is to walk Meghan down the aisle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19.
He and Meghan’s mum Doria Ragland will both have “important roles” at the royal wedding, a spokesman said.
Harry’s mum Princess Diana will also be remembered in the ceremony.
But aides could not confirm Prince Philip would attend as the 96-year-old recovers from hip replacement surgery.
Thomas Markle, 73, will travel from his home in Rosarito, Mexico, next week and will meet Harry for the first time when he lands in the UK.
He and Doria, 60, will have meetings with the Queen, Philip, Prince Charles and wife Camilla as well as Harry’s best man Prince William and wife Kate.
Meghan, 36, was also keen to involve her mother in proceedings.
The mum and daughter will travel together by car past waiting crowds in the castle grounds to the chapel, where dad Thomas will be waiting to proudly walk Meghan to the altar.
DELIGHTED
A spokesman said: “Prince Harry and Ms Markle are very much looking forward to welcoming Ms Markle’s parents to Windsor for the wedding...
“Ms Markle is delighted to have her parents by her side on this important and happy occasion.”
Thomas, who has been described as a recluse, previously told the Mirror he would “love to” walk his daughter up the aisle. A friend also said: “Tom is exceptionally proud of Meghan. He’s made no secret he’d like to walk Meghan down the aisle. There’s nothing he’d like more.”
US actress Meghan is particularly close to mum Doria, a therapist and yoga teacher, who Harry has met several times and described as “amazing”.
Doria is expected to stay with Meghan the night before the wedding, at a location yet to be announced.
Bride Meghan will not have a maid of honour, but only child bridesmaids and pageboys. A source said: “She has a very close-knit group of friends and did not want to choose one over the other.”
The bridesmaids and pageboys will be named next week but are expected to include Prince George, four, and three-year-old Prin- cess Charlotte. They will join the bride as she arrives at the chapel and enters via the West Steps with her dad. Harry, 33, will be waiting for Meghan at the altar with brother William, 35. The princes will arrive together earlier, stopping to talk to some of the “golden ticket” guests, including charity workers and local schoolkids, gathered in the Horseshoe Cloister outside the chapel. The hour-long service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor the Right Reverend David Conner, and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will officiate as the couple make their marriage vows. Meghan’s engagement ring includes
Princess Diana’s diamonds, and Harry is “keen to involve his mother’s family in his wedding”, a spokesman said.
Diana’s brother Earl Spencer and sisters Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale will bring their families, and Lady Jane will give the reading. The spokesman said: “Prince Harry and Ms Markle feel honoured that Lady Jane will be representing her family and helping to celebrate the memory of the late Princess.”
They will be joined by the extended Royal Family, Harry’s pals from Eton and the military, and Meghan’s friends from school in Los Angeles and university in Illinois and her co-stars from US drama series Suits. Kate will attend without newborn Prince Louis.
Thousands of well-wishers are expected in Windsor, Berks, on the big day to watch the newlyweds’ 25-minute procession through the town in an Ascot Landau carriage. It will take them back to the castle for an afternoon reception at St George’s Hall hosted by the Queen. That is followed by a dinner hosted by Prince Charles for 200 friends in Frogmore House in the castle grounds.
The designer of Meghan’s dress will be announced as she steps out of her car at the chapel. Titles for the couple – expected to be the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – will be granted by the Queen and announced on the morning of the wedding.
Harry and Meghan will return from their honeymoon for a public engagement a week after the wedding.
Gold mine bosses have found two new sites to dig for Welsh gold, used for royal wedding rings for nearly 100 years. Both sites, to be run by Alba Mineral Resources, are near the existing Clogau mine near Dolgellau, Snowdonia, which is likely to provide the gold for Meghan’s wedding ring.
Ms Markle is delighted to have her parents by her side on this happy occasion KENSINGTON PALACE SPOKESMAN ON MUM & DAD’S ROYAL WEDDING ROLES
MEGHAN Markle’s father Thomas walking her down the aisle when she marries Prince Harry is a nice touch.
Her mother Doria’s attendance at the ceremony means the family members who are closest to the bride will be at Windsor to enjoy her big day.
Rifts within families are, alas, common and it may be a shame she has not invited her complaining brothers and sisters but in truth none of us are in a position to really judge.
As with any wedding, what counts most is the happiness of the couple.
And if Meghan Markle is pleased that her father and mother are attending, then we should be delighted for her.