MEG'S GOING SOLO
Meghan Markle will enter Royal Wedding chapel ALONE before Prince Charles meets her halfway down the aisle
MEGHAN Markle will enter St George's Chapel alone on her wedding day.
In an extraordinary twist to the biggest wedding of the year, the 36-year-old bride will only meet Prince Charles about halfway down the aisle.
28
claimed the American-born actress had always planned to enter the chapel by herself, with Prince Charles to only escort her the final length of the Nave to the altar during the big day tomorrow.
The move is seen as Meg expressing her feminist beliefs - walking down the aisle as an independent woman.
A source said: "It was something she made clear she wanted to do when she and Prince Harry started planning their wedding last November."
What we know so far…
- Meghan Markle will be walked down the aisle by Prince Charles, Kensington Palace announced today
- Meghan confirmed her dad Thomas Markle would not be at her wedding as he continues to recover from major heart surgery
- Thomas Markle had earlier said he wouldn’t be attending for fear of embarrassing Meghan over staged paparazzi photos
- The 73-year-old suffered a heart scare last week which he has reportedly blamed on an open letter by his son Tom Jr – who has since said he’s “mortified”
- Samantha Markle, Meghan’s half-sister, slammed claims Kensington Palace is supporting their dad in hospital before she was injured in a car crash on Wednesday
- Police have since said they could not find any evidence of the crash
- Doria met with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge a Royal Wedding rehearsal and is expected to sit down for afternoon tea with the Queen today
The claims come after it was today confirmed the Suits star had asked her future father-in-law to give her away after her own dad Thomas Markle officially pulled out of the big day yesterday.
Meghan's mum, 61-year-old Doria Ragland, had largely been tipped to walk the bride down the aisle at St George's Chapel tomorrow, but Kensington Palace today revealed it would instead be Prince Charles.
28
28
28
28
28
The statement from Kensington Palace said: "Ms Meghan Markle has asked His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to accompany her down the aisle of the Quire of St George's Chapel on her Wedding Day.
"The Prince of Wales is pleased to be able to welcome Ms Markle to the Royal Family in this way."
Meghan's mother, who will today meet the Queen at afternoon tea, is now expected to be the only direct family member of the bride's at the wedding.
The bride will also only have children as her bridesmaids and page boys, with Princess Charlotte and big brother Prince George among those in the bridal party.
28
28
When is the Royal Wedding? Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s wedding date, time, route and venue
28
Alongside Prince Charles, Prince William will also have a starring role at the wedding, acting as his brother's best man.
It's not the first time that Prince Harry's dad has given a bride away, with the royal walking down the aisle with Alexandra Knatchbull - the great granddaughter of his great friend Lord Louis Mountbatten - in 2016.
The bride's own father had not been able to take on the task, forced to step down due to ill health.
Royal commentators were torn over the decision, with some saying it is an "honour" for Prince Charles - but others describing it as a "missed opportunity" for mum Doria.
Royal expert Dickie Arbiter told The Sun Online that the gesture proved the family was embracing Meghan and "bringing her into the fold".
28
28
28
Royal Wedding has ‘£30m’ ring of steel security operation as snipers descend on Windsor ahead of big day
28
28
28
28
28
28
28
28
28
28
He said: "If anyone had any doubts about how they are reacting to her - Charles walking her down the aisle is proof that they are embracing her and bringing her into the family.
"With everything that has been going on this past week it would have been nice for mum to do it.
"But, then for mum, who’s very reserved and very retiring and incredibly diplomatic it might just have been a walk too far for her. It would have been a bit too daunting to have the eyes and the ears of the world on her."
He pointed out that the decision would have been "Meghan's alone".
Fellow commentator Victoria Arbiter wrote on Twitter: "No doubt it will be a proud and beautiful moment for Charles walking Meghan down the aisle but I feel an even bigger moment has been missed with Doria."
28
She later : "Prince Charles has long talked about the fact that he would have loved a daughter, so this gives him an opportunity to walk a beautiful young lady down the aisle to his waiting son.
"It's going to be a deeply personal moment for the father and son, not to mention Meghan.
"I also think it's a lovely way of showing that the Royal Family is behind this marriage.
"Meghan has really faced an amazing amount of vitriol and abuse from certain areas - people saying that she's not worthy of the Royal Family, or that she shouldn't be marrying into the Royal Family."
It was today revealed that the Duke of Edinburgh would be attending the wedding of the year, after fears he may have to miss it due to a string of health issues.
It's good news for Meghan and Harry, who have endured a turbulent week in the lead up to the big day.
Meghan Markle confirms dad Thomas will NOT be at Royal Wedding
28
28
Meghan had yesterday released an emotionally-charged statement to confirm her 73-year-old dad Thomas Markle, who lives in Mexico, would not be able to attend her big day.
In the statement, the bride-to-be said: "Sadly my father will not be attending our wedding.
"I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health.
"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."
It was an astonishing statement that seemed to be directed towards her family, with her half-sister Samantha in particular claiming that she had needed to wire cash to their father to help him survive.
Meghan's estranged family members - including her nephews and sister-in-law - also landed in the UK despite not being invited to the wedding - have regularly trashed the 36-year-old bride.
DELICIOUS DELIGHTS: Recipe for Royal Wedding Cake revealed
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry's lemon and elderflower wedding cake will be displayed in a special installation, their baker has revealed.
Claire Ptak, who is making the culinary centrepiece for the couple's big day, revealed that it would be a "non-traditional" layout.
But while the final look is top secret until tomorrow, the ingredients of the delicious dessert have been released.
The cake includes:
- 200 Amalfi lemons
- 500 organic eggs from Suffolk
- 20kgs of butter
- 20kgs of flour
- 20kgs of sugar
- 10 bottles of Sandringham Elderflower Cordial
28
28
28
The Royal Wedding plans were thrown into chaos when 73-year-old Thomas Sr announced he wouldn't be attending - after being left embarrassed over staged paparazzi photos.
While Meghan reportedly begged her father to attend - saying she still loved him - her reclusive dad eventually pulled out.
This means that mum Doria, who will today meet the Queen over afternoon tea, will be the only direct relative of Meghan's at the wedding.
Pals flew into the UK to support Meghan, with best friend Jessica Mulroney arriving this week.
The Canadian socialite's children are among those who will be bridesmaids and page boys during the ceremony.
But despite the drama, Prince Harry and Meghan are now gearing up for the ceremony, with family having headed to Windsor for wedding rehearsals yesterday.
MOST READ IN NEWS
The Duchess of Cambridge was among the members of the Royal Family seen heading to Windsor, the first time that she has been seen since the birth of Prince Louis.
Thomas Sr has previously blamed his health woes on his son Thomas Markle Jr over an open letter he wrote to Prince Harry - branding the wedding as a "fake fairy tale".
But the dramas haven't stopped royal fans from flocking to Windsor, with hundreds already at the town ahead of the big day.
Bakers show how they are already preparing lemon and elder wedding cake for Royal Wedding
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
Topics
