Charles to walk bride down aisle

THEY'VE DECIDED it's a role fit for a future king.

Prince Charles will step in for Meghan Markle's father and walk her down the aisle at her wedding with his son Prince Harry, the British royal family confirmed Friday.

“The Prince of Wales is pleased to be able to welcome Ms. Markle to The Royal Family in this way,” read a statement from Kensington Palace.

Thomas Markle, the bride's 73-year-old father, was set to walk his daughter down the aisle at the ceremony outside London on Saturday. But he’d waffled on the idea amid a scandal over his involvement with staged paparazzi photos.

Amid the media circus, the elder Markle underwent heart surgery on Wednesday. Markle confirmed Thursday that he would not attend.

That raised questions over who would with the 36-year-old American bride to “give her away” in the highly choreographed ceremony. There was some speculation that Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, would do the honors.

Prince Charles, the father of both Prince Harry and Prince William, is first in line to the British throne after his 92-year-old mother Queen Elizabeth II.

Harry’s grandfather Prince Philip, 96, will attend the wedding, Buckingham Palace said Friday. Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, underwent surgery on his hip six weeks ago.