MEG’S MUM SAVES DAY:
AFTER ALL THE DAD DRAMA, RELIEF AS... And Windsor preparations are in full swing
MEGHAN MARKLE’S mum arrived in the UK yesterday all set to walk her daughter down the aisle after her dad revealed he couldn’t come.
Doria Ragland left home in LA and landed in London at lunchtime, where she was met by Prince Harry’s staff, who took her to Kensington Palace.
The 61-year-old social worker and yoga teacher is now looking the favourite to give Meghan away on Saturday.
Doria is already travelling to St George’s Chapel with Meghan and will spend the night before the ceremony with her at the Cliveden House Hotel.
She received the royal treatment when she arrived at Heathrow yesterday, greeted by Harry’s assistant private secretary Amy Pickerill, before being whisked through the airport’s VIP Windsor suite and into a royal car.
Harry’s staff were seen helping with her luggage – including a Burberry dress bag, suggesting she will be flying the flag for the British designer on the big day.
Before Saturday, she will meet The Queen and Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Camilla, and William and Kate.
Also arriving in London yesterday was Meghan’s close friend and stylist Jessica Mulroney, whose three children were all announced as part of the bridal party.
Jessica, who is the daughter-in-law of former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, has been heavily involved in the wedding preparations, making several transatlantic trips to help the bride with her dress.
Meghan’s half sister Samantha Markle, who is not invited to the wedding, continued to be vocal yesterday, telling TMZ: “Meg doesn’t have a relationship, that I’ve seen, with anyone in the family.”
However, she said she had a “sentimental” wedding gift for Meghan that she wanted to give her in person.
Windsor was in full swing gearing up for the bid day, with fans already starting to camp out along the procession route.
Donna Werner, 66, from New Fairfield, Connecticut, has travelled more than 3,000 miles and will sleep outside in a sleeping bag between now and Saturday. The self-confessed royal superfan said: “It is such an experience.
“People think it would be fun to do, but to actually buy a plane ticket and then to sleep on the streets for three to four nights...”
Meanwhile, homeless people in the town are being offered the chance to get off the streets and sleep on a bus provided by charity The Ark Project.
The move follows the controversial suggestion by Conservative council leader Simon Dudley that they should be removed during the royal wedding.
The Ark Project has 10 beds on its double-decker bus, as well as a kitchen to prepare warm food.
Volunteer Michael Longsmith, 42, said: “The police won’t move them on because they know the press will be all
over it, but the excuse they are using is that footfall is going to crush them.” Wayne, who has been homeless for 12 months, said no police had attempted to move him on in the build-up to the wedding. He said: “I don’t know if I’m allowed to stay here on Saturday or not. “I haven’t been told anything to suggest I can’t.” Choir boys Leo Mills, 11, and Nathan Mcharo, nine, from the chapel choir that will sing at the wedding, described the experience as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”. Leo said: “I’m super excited. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If it’s handed to you, you take it. You don’t shy away from it.
“We’ve been rehearsing often for the last three or four weeks.” The boys, from St George’s School in the grounds of Windsor Castle, sing in up to eight services a week.
Royal Navy personnel from the Fleet’s Small Ships and Diving Units, and 30 Commando IX Group Royal Marines from Plymouth will be among the 250 members of the armed forces at the royal wedding.
The sailors were seen yesterday rehearsing at HMS Collingwood in Fareham, Hampshire.
Jeremy Corbyn will not be watching the royal wedding live at the weekend.
The Labour leader – a republican – is due to address his party’s economic conference on Saturday. He wished the couple “all the best”.