Meghan Markle’s father has backtracked on his shock decision to drop out of her wedding, after claiming he had suffered a heart attack – and now insists he’d love to walk her down the aisle, should his doctors allow him to travel.
Speaking to TMZ, Thomas Markle has confirmed his daughter has contacted him, and expressed her love and support after he pulled out of her nuptials. He previously said he didn’t want to embarrass her on her big day, after being caught staging paparazzi photos of himself and selling them to a photo agency
Now, the 73-year-old has reportedly told the US site: “I hate the idea of missing one of the greatest moments in history and walking my daughter down the aisle.
“Of course I’d walk her down the aisle. This is a historic moment. I’d like to be a part of history.”
However, Markle Sr admitted it may not be possible, over fears for his health. He says he suffered a heart attack last week, and now he’s back in hospital with chest pains. The worried dad claims doctors fear it may have damaged his heart – making travel potentially dangerous.
He was recently caught on CCTV setting up paparazzi photos in advance, showing him browsing news reports of his daughter and Prince Harry, getting measured for a wedding suit and even reading a British book.
But he claimed to the site that Meghan has no hard feelings over it, and reportedly said she had tried calling him on Monday – but he had been away from his phone at the time. He claimed she then text him, telling him she loved him and was concerned about his health.
Asked how he thinks the Queen will feel about the recent drama, Markle Sr joked she wasn’t likely to be thinking about what he’s doing.
It comes after he first pulled out of the wedding just hours ago. On Monday evening, London time, Kensington Palace released a statement, saying this was a “deeply personal moment” for Meghan and Harry, who are already dealing with immense pressure in the lead up to their wedding on Saturday.
“This is a deeply personal moment for Ms. Markle in the days before her wedding,” the memo read, according to multiple media publications. “She and Prince Harry ask again for understanding and respect to be extended to Mr. Markle in this difficult situation.”
While Meghan is close with her mother Doria, who will ride with her in the car on the way to St George’s Chapel, she has a strained relationship with her father and half-brother and sister, who have all given outspoken and often cruel interviews to the media about her.
Before Markle Sr admitted to staging the paparazzi shots, Buckingham Palace released a statement telling the media to back off. It followed a similar statement from Prince Harry at the beginning of his relationship with Meghan, in which he slammed the press for the “racial overtones” into the reporting of his relationship, and said at the time he’d never before encountered such a “degree of pressure, scrutiny and harassment” from the media.