Despite Rumors, Meghan Markle’s Parents Will Be Involved in the Royal Wedding—Here’s How
Popular royals like Prince William and Kate Middleton will obviously be at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s May 19 wedding, but much speculation surrounded the attendance of one clan: the Markles.
On Friday, however, Prince Harry’s press secretary Jason Knauf released a statement providing a very thorough update ahead of their big day. The takeaway? It’ll be a full family affair.
“The first thing I would like to share is that Prince Harry and Ms. Markle are very much looking forward to welcoming Ms. Markle’s parents to Windsor for the wedding,” the statement read. Basically, Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland will arrive in the U.K. one week before the wedding and will spend time with Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Camilla (Duchess of Cornwall), Prince William, and Kate Middleton.
Not only will Markle’s family greet the royals, but they’ll also participate in the wedding ceremony. Ragland, Meghan’s mom, will join her in a car en route to Windsor Castle that morning, while her father will indeed walk her down the aisle at St. George’s Chapel. “Ms. Markle is delighted to have her parents by her side on this important and happy occasion,” the statement continued.
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As for Prince Harry’s side, the usual suspects—plus some surprising guests—will be included. We already knew that Prince William would become his Best Man, but now we’ve learned that Princess Diana’s siblings will attend, with Lady Jane Fellowes to give a reading in memory of the late Diana.
The news comes following rumors and reports that Markle has essentially turned her back on her family. In Touch recently published a handwritten letter Markle’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., wrote to Prince Harry in which he urged the royal to call off the wedding. As People reports, however, both Meghan and Harry have been in touch with her parents in the past several months. Harry reportedly asked Ragland, who was married to Thomas Markle until 1988, for permission before popping the question.
Though her parents released a joint statement saying they were “incredibly happy” about the engagement news, other family members weren’t so convinced. Similarly to Thomas Markle Jr., Meghan’s half-sister Samantha Markle has previously spoken out about the sacrifices they claim Markle’s father took to raise Meghan.
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In December, she defended her father after Prince Harry called the royals the family that Meghan “never had.” “She has a large family. She always did. Our dad is amazing and completely self-sacrificing,” she tweeted. “We made it so that she had two houses. How fun it was!”
This drama sounds just like something out of Meet the Parents, the royal version.