Meghan Markle’s father WILL give a speech at her wedding to Prince Harry after all
MEGHAN Markle’s dad Thomas will speak at the royal wedding, says her sister Samantha - after claims he would be replaced by his daughter to make a speech.
Samantha Markle, 53, hit out after claims Meg, 36, will break with tradition and give a speech herself at her wedding reception with Prince Harry in May.
She was reportedly preparing to speak in place of her reclusive lighting director father, Thomas Markle Sr, 73, who is still expected to walk her down the aisle.
But Samantha, from Florida, said: “Of course my father wants to speak at the wedding and he will. He is proud and looks forward to it.
“A father speaking at a wedding is not patriarchy, it is poetic justice. A proud and loving father should not be denied of the joy of speaking at his daughter’s wedding.
“And we can’t forget that it was our father who uplifted us and made us all that we are today so he should not be deprived of the right that fathers have to give a proud speech at the wedding.
“He wants to speak and it’s his right as a father.”
Thomas Sr was married to Meghan’s mother, his second wife Doria Ragland, in 1979, and lived with them in Woodland Hills, California, until they divorced in 1988.
He was an Emmy-winning lighting director in Hollywood before retiring.
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The shy father now lives in a quiet community in Mexico – but is thought to be flying to Britain to give away his daughter to Harry, 33.
He is yet to meet Harry – while Meghan remains close to her yoga instructor mother, who has met the prince.
Meghan and Harry are due to wed on May 19 at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.