Meghan Markle‘s father Thomas Markle was set to meet Prince Harry for the first time this week before walking her down the aisle on Saturday, but now the bride-to-be will become royal before the two men ever meet.
Markle will no longer be attending the royal wedding on May 19, as first reported by TMZ following the news that he had participated in staged paparazzi photos. Late Monday, Kensington Palace announced in a statement that Meghan was in the midst of a “deeply personal moment” following the surprise turn of events.
“This is a deeply personal moment for Ms. Markle in the days before her wedding,” said a spokesman. “She and Prince Harry ask again for understanding and respect to be extended to Mr. Markle in this difficult situation.”
In a press briefing earlier this month, the palace had announced that Markle was set to walk Meghan down the aisle on May 19. On Monday, Markle said that after suffering a heart attack six days ago, he checked himself out of the hospital in order to attend the wedding, but decided against it after it was revealed that he staged photo shoots.
When asked if the “difficult situation” referred to the staged photo shoots or Thomas’ statement that he suffered a heart attack last week, the spokesperson stated, “We are not getting into further details.”
Earlier on Monday, Meghan’s half-sister Samantha Markle admitted to arranging the photo shoots of their father, but argued that their intentions were good. “There’s a lot of scrutiny that it was money motivated, it was not,” Samantha insisted on British talk show Loose Women. She and Thomas both explained that it was to combat the media coverage that they felt portrayed him in a negative light.
Samantha and her brother Thomas Jr. (Meghan’s half-brother) will not be at the wedding. A source tells PEOPLE that Meghan has no relationship with her half-siblings.
Source: Meghan Markle/Instagram
Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, is still expected to attend, and will be staying at a hotel with her daughter the night before the royal wedding.
They will then travel together by car to St. George’s Chapel, where they were expected to meet Meghan’s dad to walk her down the aisle. As Thomas will no longer be attending, he will not get to meet Prince Harry until after his daughter has officially become a member of the royal family.
When asked if Meghan’s father’s decision not to attend was definite, a spokesperson from Kensington Palace confirmed that “The extent of what we are going to say is in that [their original] comment.”
With just days to go until his daughter walks down the aisle, Meghan Markle‘s father announced Monday that he will no longer be attending the royal wedding on May 19.
Thomas Markle, Meghan’s father, became caught up in scandal this weekend after it was revealed that he had conspired with paparazzi photographers to stage several photoshoots ahead of Meghan’s big day. In the photos, which appeared in publications across the globe, he was seen reading a book about Great Britain, looking at an online photo gallery of photos of Meghan and Prince Harry and having a fitting for his wedding suit. In a Mail on Sunday report that was published just six days before Meghan and Harry tie the knot, it was revealed that the photographs were staged.
In the aftermath of the revelation, Thomas told TMZ that he longer plans to attend the wedding, hoping to avoid any embarrassment to Meghan and the royal family. Thomas had previously been set to walk his daughter down the aisle at St. George’s Chapel on Saturday.
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.”
It’s the event of the decade! Be sure to keep up with all of PEOPLE’s royal wedding coverage and don’t forget to check out everything you need to know about Meghan Markle’s perfect style.
In his absence, who will have the honor of walking Meghan down the aisle to wed Prince Harry?
Meghan Markle and Doria Ragland Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images
1. Her mother, Doria Ragland
The most obvious choice is Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland. Meghan and her mom are close, and she’s gotten to know Harry over the past year. During Meghan and Harry’s televised engagement interview, Harry said that Doria was “awesome.” Doria also joined the couple for the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in September 2017.
Doria is expected to accompany her daughter to St. George’s Chapel by car from Cliveden House Hotel, where she and Meghan will stay the night before the wedding. Upon arrival, Meghan was supposed to be greeted by her father, who would then walk her down the aisle. With Thomas no longer set to be in attendance on the big day, it’s quite possible that Doria would take his place to walk her daughter down the aisle.
Prince Charles Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
2. Her father-in-law-to-be, Prince Charles
If Meghan’s father can’t be there, then her father-in-law could step in. Charles has no other official duty during the wedding, and he and wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall have been excited to welcome Meghan into the family from the moment they announced their engagement. He’s even hosting the couple’s evening wedding reception at Frogmore House. It could be a sweet show of family solidarity and acceptance.
Prince Philip Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty
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3. Her grandfather-in-law-to-be, Prince Philip
Meghan could go for a different generation of royal and ask Prince Philip to do the honors. But even if she did ask, he’s likely unable to do the job. Considering Prince Philip’s recent hip replacement surgery, the chances that he’ll be up for the long walk (110 steps!) down the aisle of St. George’s Chapel are slim, even if he does have Meghan to lean on. And of course, his attendance at the wedding itself has yet to be confirmed (though his appearance at the Windsor Horse Show last week is promising).
Prince William Tom Nicholson/Shutterstock
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4. Her brother-in-law-to-be, Prince William
The third royal who could be a likely candidate for the job is Meghan’s future brother-in-law, Prince William. This choice has precedent: When Princess Margaret married Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960, her brother-in-law Prince Philip walked her down the aisle, as her father, King George VI, had died in 1952. However, William is Harry’s best man, so he might be otherwise occupied during the day, and would want to remain by Harry’s side ahead of the “I do’s.”
Meghan Markle Toby Melville /WPA Pool/Getty Images
5. Herself
Perhaps the most true-to-herself option of all would be if Meghan walks down the aisle of St. George’s Chapel solo. Meghan has long been outspoken about her independence. It could be a meaningful show of personal strength as she prepares to join the world’s most famous family.
Meghan Markle‘s father Thomas Markle will not be attending the royal wedding.
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 aisle earlier 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.
Thomas Markle and baby Meghan Markle Source: Meghan Markle/Instagram
It’s the event of the decade! Be sure to keep up with all of PEOPLE’s royal wedding coverage and don’t forget to check out everything you need to know about Meghan Markle’s perfect style.
Victoria Jones/PA Wire
Thomas tells TMZ that he now thinks the photos — which showed him getting fitted for his wedding outfit, reading a book about photos of Great Britain, and looking at pictures of Meghan and Harry — are “stupid and hammy,” and that he was following the instructions of the paparazzi agency in posing the photographs.
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He says that his motivation in posing for the photographs was not financial, and that he has turned down several paid interview requests since Meghan and Harry started dating.
Samantha and her brother Thomas Jr. (Meghan’s half-brother) will not be at the wedding on May 19. A source tells PEOPLE that Meghan is not close with her half-siblings.
“Meghan has no relationship with her half-siblings, nor has she ever had one,” the source says. “They were out of the house by the time she was born.”
A source close to the former Suits star tells PEOPLE: “Meghan loves her dad. Like any father-daughter relationship, there have been ups and downs over the years. But they are in a good place now.”
Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, will be staying at a hotel with her daughter the night before the royal wedding. They will then travel together by car to St. George’s Chapel where they were expected to meet Meghan’s dad to walk her down the aisle.
Photo: Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Ask any American what they’ll be doing at the crack of dawn on Saturday, May 19, and the answers will likely vary from Huh, sleeping? to Watching some British people get married! That’s because, of course, the long-anticipated wedding of “Meghan” Markle (of Suits fame) and Prince Harry (of ginger fame) will then occur, where the happy couple will exchange vows and smooch for all the world to see at the unbearably regal Windsor Castle. Whether you want to watch it live, record it for later, or totally ignore it in favor of some precious zzzs, television networks are making it easy to watch the big day unfold — but yes, having a cable subscription is advisable. Damn the Yanks! Here’s how to watch the royal wedding.
ABC
A special Good Morning America will be dedicated to the wedding, hosted by Robin Roberts and David Muir live from St. George’s Chapel. The coverage will also be livestreamed on the official ABC app and website. Start time: 5 a.m. ET.
BBC America
The network will air the entire event with limited commentary, both on its channel and through a livestream on the official BBC America app or website. Start time: 4 a.m. ET.
CBS
Gayle King and Kevin Frazier will be hosting a special CBS News report on the wedding, which will also include “special correspondent” Tina Brown. The wedding will be aired in full on the network, and through its livestream on the official CBS app and website. Start time: 4 a.m. ET.
E!
Giuliana Rancic, Brad Goreski, and Sarah-Jane Crawford will be hosting E!’s coverage, which will air the wedding in full while peppering it with the trio’s commentary. Start time: 5 a.m ET.
Fox News
Shepard Smith and Sandra Smith will be reporting live from St. George’s Chapel, during which time the wedding will be aired in full. Start time: 6 a.m. ET.
HBO
Following their smashing success from the Rose Parade, Cord Hosenbeck and Tish Cattigan — or rather, Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon in character — will break out their hosting chops once again for the royal wedding, which will be available to watch on both HBO and HBO Go. Start time: 7:30 a.m. ET.
NBC
Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb will be live from Windsor Castle for NBC’s coverage, which will air the wedding in full with the duo’s commentary. It will also be available to livestream on the official NBC app or website. Start time: 4:30 a.m. ET.
PBS
PBS will be switching between its own original commentary by Meredith Vieira and Matt Baker, and live coverage of the wedding from the BBC in the U.K. Start time: 4:15 a.m. ET.
MSNBC
Joy Reid will be anchoring the network’s coverage of the wedding, which will air in full. Start time: 4:15 a.m. ET.
BritBox
The Anglophile subscription service will be utilizing Phillip Schofield and Julie Etchingham for the wedding coverage, which will be livestreamed in full. Start time: 5 a.m. ET.
TLC
Hosts Randy Fenoli, Lori Allen, Monte Durham, George Kotsiopoulos, and Hayley Paige will provide fashion commentary throughout TLC’s live coverage of the wedding, which will air in full. Start time: 5 a.m. ET.
