The only direction is forward. After a rather tumultuous week leading up to her wedding day, Meghan Markle finally spoke out on Thursday, May 17, about the drama surrounding her family especially regarding her father, Thomas Markle.
The father of the bride, currently grappling with health issues, said earlier this week that he would not be attending his daughter’s wedding following a staged paparazzi photo scandal in which it was revealed that he had been paid for a series of posed images. While other distant family members chimed in on the hullabaloo, one figure was noticeably silent this past week, and that was Meghan.
“Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding,” the bride of the moment said via Kensington Palace on Thursday. “I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health.”
She concluded, “I would like to thank everyone who has offered generous messages of support. Please know how much Harry and I look forward to sharing our special day with you on Saturday.”
(Thomas, meanwhile, told TMZ earlier this week that his daughter had reached out with concern about his health. He has since checked into a hospital to look out for his heart condition.)
While Markle’s father will not be by her side on her wedding day, mother of the bride Doria Ragland flew into London on Wednesday to prep for the days ahead.
The Knot will be covering all things related to the 2018 Royal Wedding, happening Saturday, May 19.
