Fresh fears for Meghan ahead of her new royal life
As she adjusts to her new life as a princess, experts predict there’ll be continued heartache for Meghan Markle
It was billed as a royal wedding unlike any other, with the nation’s excitement reaching fever pitch as the big day drew closer. But Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s fairy tale made headlines for all of the wrong reasons, after a series of unprecedented royal shocks overshadowed the build-up to their lavish ceremony at Windsor Castle.
Meghan’s explosive family feud dominated the days leading up to the wedding. First there was embarrassment, after her half-brother Thomas Markle Jr, 51, wrote an open letter to Harry, warning him Meghan was “jaded, shallow and conceited” and to call off the wedding. While Meghan’s half-sister Samantha, 53, has also repeatedly lashed out against the star and called her “unqualified for the role.” Then there were conflicting reports over whether her father, Thomas, 73 – who was caught out selling photos of himself to the press just a fortnight beforehand – would walk her down the aisle.
With three days to go, Meghan, 36, issued a statement confirming that her father – who suffered a sudden heart attack and had to undergo major surgery – would not be at the royal wedding. She wrote, “Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding. I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health.”
FAN BACKLASH
Reports claimed Meghan was “upset” and “disturbed” after her comments received a bitter public backlash over her “weird” choice of wording, with people questioning why she wasn’t more affectionate.
One wrote, “Meghan Markle:
“I’ve always cared for my father”. He’s your dad, not a house plant!” Another commented, “Why not ‘I love my father’? Quite sad really. Perhaps she’s ‘guarding’ herself against future issues he might cause.”
Speculation that her mother, Doria Raglan, 62, would break with convention and walk her down the aisle was silenced when Meghan made an additional shock announcement that father-in-law Prince Charles would step in. It was met with yet another wave of criticism online. One royal watcher wrote, “It should have been her mum to do it. But I guess only MEN can give women away at a wedding”. Another critic added, “Disappointing that Prince Charles is walking Meghan down the aisle. Perfect opportunity for the royals to show how modern and not sexist they are.”
As Closer went to press, royal experts predicted this is just the beginning of Meghan’s heartache, and as she enters royal life her dramas are only set to get harder.