Palace backs Mr Markle in photos row

THE father of Meghan Markle is receiving the backing of Kensington Palace after being accused of collaborating with paparazzi to stage photographs ahead of his daughter’s wedding.

CCTV footage appeared to show him posing for shots in an internet café in Mexico, where Thomas Markle lives.

The revelations in a Sunday newspaper come days before the 73-year-old former Hollywood lighting director travels to Britain to meet Prince Harry, his future son-in-law, for the first time.

Mr Markle, and Doria Ragland, Ms Markle’s mother, are also due to meet the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal family.

Kensington Palace had warned the media not to publish pictures of Mr Markle or Ms Ragland, insisting they had no wish for publicity. But photographs in the tabloid press aroused suspicion after Mr Markle was pictured exercising, reading a book, being measured for a suit, and looking up pictures of his daughter in an internet café.

The Mail on Sunday published CCTV images and interviews with café staff and tailors in Mexico, alleging that the pictures had been staged.

A source said the Palace had offered Mr Markle its support and would “continue to make interventions with the media out of concern for his safety and security”.

Thomas Markle, soon to be embraced by the Royal family, caused a stir when he was photographed in public places looking at pictures of his daughter and getting himself measured up for a suit