Meghan Markle’s father may not attend her wedding, it has emerged, just five days before he was due to walk her down the aisle.
TMZ reports that Thomas suffered a heart attack six days ago, but had checked himself out of the hospital in order to attend the royal wedding. Kensington Palace announced that he was set to walk Meghan down the aisleearlier this month. However, he has decided not to attend the wedding after it was revealed that he staged several photoshoots with a paparazzi agency ahead of the wedding. According to TMZ, he says that he will not attend because he does not want to embarrass Meghan or the royal family.
A Kensington Palace spokesman said: “This is a deeply personal moment for Ms. Markle in the days before her wedding. She and Prince Harry ask again for understanding and respect to be extended to Mr. Markle in this difficult situation.”
He tells TMZ that he had been photographed by the paparazzi frequently after his daughter’s relationship with Harry was revealed, and even more since their engagement was announced in November. He says he did not like the way the photographs portrayed him — he says he was pictured buying beer (which he says was for the guards at the place where he lives.) Orchestrated by his other daughter, Samantha Markle, he posed for photos that he hoped would show him in a more flattering light.