Thomas Markle Snr, 73, was spotted in a backstreet tailor's shop near his home in Mexico being measured up for his wedding suit
MEGHAN Markle’s dad prepares for her big day as he is measured for his Royal Wedding suit.
Royal aides yesterday finally confirmed Thomas Markle Snr, 73, will fly from Mexico to give away Suits star Meghan as she weds Prince Harry on May 19.
The retired Hollywood lighting director spent 15 minutes getting sized up at a backstreet tailor’s near his Rosarito home.
The royal bride is “delighted” that the divorced couple will have major roles at her marriage to Prince Harry.
Thomas and ex-wife Doria Ragland, 61, will meet the Queen and Prince Philip in the week before the ceremony in a fortnight’s time.
They will also be introduced to Prince Charles and Camilla, best man Prince William and Kate.
In a break from tradition, mum Doria will travel in the car with Meghan to Windsor Castle.
Once inside, Doria will get out and enter St George’s Chapel.
Flower girls and page boys will then get in the car with Meghan to be driven round to the West Door.
There the bridal party will be met by retired Hollywood lighting director Thomas, who will walk his daughter down the aisle.
It also emerged yesterday that the newlyweds will not be going on honeymoon immediately and will be straight back to work. Meghan won’t have a Maid of Honour.
A spokesman for Kensington Palace said: “Ms Markle is delighted to have her parents by her side on this important and happy occasion. It’s very important to her that both her parents have roles in her wedding.”
Speculation had mounted for months over whether dad Thomas would attend on May 19.
But as The Sun revealed last month it was always his intention to be at his daughter’s side.
He has now been measured up for his Royal Wedding suit by his local tailor in Rosarito, Mexico. He spent 15 minutes inside the small backstreet wedding and tuxedo shop — a short drive from his ocean-side home.
Thomas was casually dressed in black trousers and a dark navy polo shirt, with a pair of glasses hooked on the front.
A young shop worker was seen measuring his arm, neck, waist and legs with a roll of white tape.
Sources said it is likely his measurements will be sent on to a top tailors in London.
One source said “He was all smiles at the local tailors.
“Thomas was just getting measured in preparation for his wedding suit. That store is the only one close to where he lives.” A spokesman for the Mexican tailors refused to comment. Prince Harry, 33, is still to meet his future father-in-law who US actress Meghan is said to “adore”.
They will get together for the first time in the days before the wedding. The source added: “Thomas cannot wait to fly to the UK to see Meghan and meet Prince Harry for the first time. He will be extremely nervous, but his family are backing him.
“Despite some of the squabbles in the family, he is the one who joins them all together. He still has the respect of virtually everyone.”
Thomas married yoga instructor Doria in 1979. They divorced in 1988 and he now lives alone.
It was also revealed yesterday that Meghan and Harry will follow tradition and spend the night before their wedding apart. Meghan will stay with her social worker mum at a secret location.
She is only having children as her bridesmaids and page boys — including Princess Charlotte, three, and Prince George, four.
She won’t have a Maid of Honour or chief bridesmaid. A spokesman said: “She has a very close group of friends and didn’t want to choose one over the other.”
It emerged that Kate will be at the wedding but new baby Prince Louis won’t. Prince Harry also wanted to remember his late mum Princess Diana on the big day.
So all three of her three siblings Earl Spencer, Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale will be present with their families — and Lady Jane will give a reading.
Harry and Meghan will live at Nottingham Cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace.
