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Royal wedding: Meghan's father may not attend ceremony Royal wedding: Meghan's father may not attend ceremony
(about 1 hour later)
It is unclear whether Meghan Markle's father Thomas will walk her down the aisle on Saturday as planned.It is unclear whether Meghan Markle's father Thomas will walk her down the aisle on Saturday as planned.
Mr Markle told celebrity news website TMZ, at his home in Mexico, that he had decided not to attend his daughter's wedding to Prince Harry.Mr Markle told celebrity news website TMZ, at his home in Mexico, that he had decided not to attend his daughter's wedding to Prince Harry.
Kensington Palace issued a statement saying it was "a deeply personal moment for Ms Markle".Kensington Palace issued a statement saying it was "a deeply personal moment for Ms Markle".
It follows reports in the Mail on Sunday that Ms Markle's father staged pictures for a paparazzi photographer.It follows reports in the Mail on Sunday that Ms Markle's father staged pictures for a paparazzi photographer.
The widely circulated photographs showed him being measured for a wedding suit and looking at newspaper stories about his daughter.The widely circulated photographs showed him being measured for a wedding suit and looking at newspaper stories about his daughter.
He is reported to have said that he did not want to cause his daughter embarrassment by attending the wedding.He is reported to have said that he did not want to cause his daughter embarrassment by attending the wedding.
TMZ reports that Mr Markle suffered a heart attack a week ago, although this has not been confirmed by the family or palace. Samantha Markle, Ms Markle's half-sister from her father's first marriage, has said she hopes her father will still attend the wedding.
She told Good Morning Britain the photographs had been done with "good intention" and that Mr Markle, 73, had suffered a heart attack due to stress.
She said the media had "raked him over the coals" and "distorted his image".
"He had a moral right to set the record straight and defend himself," she added.
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A Kensington Palace spokesman said: "This is a deeply personal moment for Ms Markle in the days before her wedding.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.""She and Prince Harry ask again for understanding and respect to be extended to Mr Markle in this difficult situation."
Mr Markle had been due to meet Prince Harry for the first time this week, as well as the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, before walking his daughter down the aisle at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.
BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said he understood Ms Markle, 36, was distressed and concerned for the wellbeing of her father, who has been described as a rather shy and reclusive figure.
"I understand it is still very much Meghan Markle's wish that her father should be there on Saturday to support her," he added.
AnalysisAnalysis
By Jonny Dymond, BBC royal correspondentBy Jonny Dymond, BBC royal correspondent
People around Meghan Markle are saying she is having to contemplate her father not walking her down the aisle.People around Meghan Markle are saying she is having to contemplate her father not walking her down the aisle.
The pressure has been absolutely relentless and she and Prince Harry have been concerned for some time about Thomas Markle's mental state.The pressure has been absolutely relentless and she and Prince Harry have been concerned for some time about Thomas Markle's mental state.
He seems to have been rather caught out by the astonishing pressure that fell upon him. Whether by design or accident he fell into this photo agency scam.He seems to have been rather caught out by the astonishing pressure that fell upon him. Whether by design or accident he fell into this photo agency scam.
We have another example of that unhappy flipside of royalty - which is the extraordinary pressure of the media's attention.We have another example of that unhappy flipside of royalty - which is the extraordinary pressure of the media's attention.
It's part of the world which Meghan Markle is joining, it's just a rather rude and poorly timed introduction to it all.It's part of the world which Meghan Markle is joining, it's just a rather rude and poorly timed introduction to it all.
Mr Markle had been due to meet Prince Harry for the first time this week, as well as the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, before walking his daughter down the aisle at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.
BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said he understood Ms Markle, 36, was distressed and concerned for the wellbeing of her father, who has been described as a rather shy and reclusive figure.
"I understand it is still very much Meghan Markle's wish that her father should be there on Saturday to support her," he added.
The controversy surrounds pictures of Mr Markle, which were published earlier this month in a number of newspapers showing him in a series of wedding-related activities - apparently unaware he was being photographed.The controversy surrounds pictures of Mr Markle, which were published earlier this month in a number of newspapers showing him in a series of wedding-related activities - apparently unaware he was being photographed.
Samantha Markle, Ms Markle's half-sister from her father's first marriage, has claimed she is to blame for the photographs. Samantha Markle said it was not done for money, and tweeted: "The media was unfairly making him look bad so I suggested he do positive photos for his benefit and the benefit of the royal family."
She tweeted: "The media was unfairly making him look bad so I suggested he do positive photos for his benefit and the benefit of the royal family. Paparazzi photographer George Bamby said setting up photographs was "easy", telling the BBC's Today programme the only reason people do it is for money.
"We had no idea he would be taken advantage of. It was not for money."
'Daddy's girl' Meghan
Ex-Suits actress Ms Markle's father is a former lighting director who worked on programmes including the 80s TV show Married with Children and General Hospital, for which he and his team won two Emmy awards.Ex-Suits actress Ms Markle's father is a former lighting director who worked on programmes including the 80s TV show Married with Children and General Hospital, for which he and his team won two Emmy awards.
He and Ms Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, divorced when Ms Markle was six years old.He and Ms Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, divorced when Ms Markle was six years old.
Mr Markle, who has two children - including Samantha - from his first marriage, filed for bankruptcy two years ago.Mr Markle, who has two children - including Samantha - from his first marriage, filed for bankruptcy two years ago.
His star daughter Ms Markle has previously described him as caring, hardworking and someone who "invested in my future so that I could grow up to have so much".His star daughter Ms Markle has previously described him as caring, hardworking and someone who "invested in my future so that I could grow up to have so much".
She said: "It's safe to say I have always been a daddy's girl - he taught me how to fish, to appreciate Busby Berkeley films, write thank-you notes, and spend my weekends in Little Tokyo eating chicken teriyaki with vegetable tempura."She said: "It's safe to say I have always been a daddy's girl - he taught me how to fish, to appreciate Busby Berkeley films, write thank-you notes, and spend my weekends in Little Tokyo eating chicken teriyaki with vegetable tempura."
The wedding will take place on 19 May at 12:00 BST at St George's Chapel in Windsor.The wedding will take place on 19 May at 12:00 BST at St George's Chapel in Windsor.
Ms Markle's parents were due to meet the Queen, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall for tea in the week leading up to the wedding.
With five days to go, Kensington Palace had earlier revealed that Miss Markle will spend her last night before getting married at a luxury Berkshire hotel with her mother, Doria.With five days to go, Kensington Palace had earlier revealed that Miss Markle will spend her last night before getting married at a luxury Berkshire hotel with her mother, Doria.
Prince Harry will be staying 15 miles away at the Dorchester Collection's Coworth Park in Ascot, with his brother, the Duke of Cambridge.Prince Harry will be staying 15 miles away at the Dorchester Collection's Coworth Park in Ascot, with his brother, the Duke of Cambridge.
On Sunday, Buckingham Palace released a photo of the Queen's written consent which allows the couple to marry.On Sunday, Buckingham Palace released a photo of the Queen's written consent which allows the couple to marry.