The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Meghan’s parents to meet the Queen ahead of ceremony
Meghan Markle’s parents will meet the Queen ahead of the royal wedding, with both the bride’s mother and father having “important roles” on the big day, Kensington Palace has said.
Just over two weeks before the ceremony on May 19, the palace revealed Thomas Markle will walk his daughter down the aisle and Doria Ragland will accompany the American star by car as she leaves for Windsor Castle.
Kensington Palace also announced Ms Markle will not be having a maid of honour and that her bridesmaids and pageboys will all be children.
Jason Knauf, the palace’s communications secretary, said: “Ms Markle will not be having a maid of honour. She has a very close-knit group of friends and did not want to choose between them.”
The newlyweds will not be going on honeymoon straight away, but will carry out their first engagement as a married couple the week after their wedding.
The bride and groom will spend the night before the wedding apart and Harry’s first glimpse of the dress will be as Ms Markle walks up the aisle.
“That tradition is very important to everyone,” Mr Knauf said of the dress.
The couple also wanted to make sure the prince’s late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, who was killed in a car crash in 1997, will be remembered on the day, the palace said. Diana’s three siblings – Earl Spencer, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes – will all be present. The Duchess of Cambridge will be there, but Prince Louis will stay at home, and the palace said they hope the 96-year-old Duke of Edinburgh will be well enough to attend following his hip operation.
Ms Markle’s parents, who divorced when she was six and about whom she has written with great affection, will arrive in Windsor the week of the wedding, and spend time with the royal family in the run-up to ceremony. Mr Knauf said the bride was delighted to have both her parents by her side.