'don't raise a hand'
Meghan Markle’s dad reveals what he told Prince Harry when he asked permission to marry her – and how he cried watching the wedding
THOMAS Markle told Prince Harry "never to raise a hand" when he asked permission to marry Meghan, he revealed today.
In his first interview since missing Meghan Markle and Harry's wedding he said: "I said to him, 'you're a gentleman, promise me you'll never raise your hand against my daughter' and I gave my permission."
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The 73-year-old revealed today on Good Morning Britain: "Meghan told me first and then a few times after that Harry got on the phone with Meghan, they got on the phone together, and Harry asked for her hand on the phone."
He told hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid he "wished" he had been the one to walk Meghan into St George's Chapel, and revealed he cried as he watched Prince Charles step in on May 19.
The former lighting director, who lives in Mexico, was forced to pull out of the royal wedding with just days to go for a heart operation.
In the week running up to the big day he changed his mind several times over if he would be attending, before finally deciding he wouldn't be able to fly to the UK - after it was revealed he worked with paparazzi to stage pictures.
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The Duchess of Sussex's dad said Meghan cried at the news, adding: "The unfortunate thing for me now is I'm a footnote in one of the greatest moments in history rather than the dad walking her down the aisle."
But said: "I was honoured. I can't think of a better replacement than someone like Prince Charles.
"It might have been a treat for him as well because he didn't have a daughter."
Mr Markle revealed he had been working on a speech for the wedding, he said: "I worked on a little speech, whether I got to say it or not and the little speech had the phone calls in when I talked to Harry and how Meghan introduced him as this nice guy from England, this prince, and then we go on to thank the royal family for opening up to my child."
He also shared details on his first chat with his new royal son-in-law: "He said 'hello Thomas' and I said 'hi Harry' and it became a conversation back and forth mostly about politics he was asking me how I was feeling that day and I said how unhappy I was with the president Donald Trump, and that's how it began.
"We talked a little about how they met and how happy they were with each other.
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"He's quite easy to talk to, he's quite a comfortable person to talk to. I wasn't nervous.
"10,000 miles apart it's hard to be nervous talking to someone on the phone."
When asked when he knew they were serious about their relationship, he said: "I can't give you a date no, it was certainly a few months before the announcement of the engagement.
"My daughter is very intelligent. She knows how to choose who she wants to be with. She's a smart girl and she made a good pick.
"The royals are very complicated, but she can always rise to that occasion.
"My daughter is capable of anything and she will be a compliment to the royal family."
He also sparked rumours the couple could be having kids soon as he said he would love some grandchildren.
He added: "She's wanted children for a long time and when she met Harry and how much she loved him, there's got to a be a child soon.
"I don't think the stork has hit the air yet but it'll happen sooner or later."
Thomas Markle reveals on GMB Meghan has 'wanted children for a long time' and a baby with Prince Harry could be on the way soon
What has Thomas Markle said about the staged pictures?
Thomas Markle appeared on Good Morning Britain this morning and told hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid why he chose to work with paparazzi to set up pictures.
He said: "I thought it would be a nice way of improving my look, but obviously that all went to hell.
"I feel bad about it, I apologised for it, it was a mistake.
"This was a presentation to me to change my image. They would take pictures of me grabbing a beer, taking the garbage out, buying a toilet and making a big deal out of it.
I thought this would be a nice way of improving my look. But that was a mistake.
"I didn't do this for money, I did this to change my image. I was presented as a hermit hiding out in Mexico but obviously that was a mistake and went wrong.
"I realised it was a serious mistake. It's hard to take it back.
"I spoke to them both and apologised. I realised it was a serious mistake but it was hard to take it back. I had been seen as a negative for an entire year and I wanted to improve my look.
"They were very forgiving, it wasn't that difficult. Both Harry and Meghan were very forgiving about it."
Meghan said everything is ready for you, Harry said I've got one of my military friends to take care of you when you're here and it was all set. Everything was booked.
"The truth is that I couldn't get over the fact that that had happened. I've got a bit of a heart condition and this pushed me a little further to the point where I had heart palpitations and I had to go to the hospital. I had a heart attack."
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He told the ITV breakfast show how Prince Harry said he had to be "open" to Brexit, adding "this is just two guys talking about politics, nothing set in stone".
He said he would love to meet the Queen, and said: "I look forward to coming to London and seeing them soon, yes I'd love to.
"I send my love to both of them. What I want you to know about me is I'm not somebody who ran away to Mexico to hide. I've lived there for six years and I love it.
"As for Meghan and Harry I couldn't be more proud of them and love them dearly. I have a new son-in-law.
"He strikes me as a gentleman, an intelligent young man and he also protects my daughter and anybody who protects my daughter I have to love and appreciated - and he does.
"You can see it with both of them together, they protect each other. It's a real love story and I'm very happy about it."
It was announced that Mr Markle would walk his daughter down the aisle before marrying Prince Harry in May.
Newlyweds Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave Windsor Castle for their evening reception at Frogmore House
Prince Harry looks lovingly at Meghan Markle as he sees her for the first time walking down the aisle as the mother of the bride wells up with happiness
Mr Markle planned to make the trip from Mexico, where he is spending his retirement, to attend the wedding and had even been spotted looking up the latest on the happy couple online.
But it was revealed he had staged the pictures with the paparazzi - something he has since apologised for, saying it was "a serious mistake but it was hard to take it back".
On May 14, it emerged he had been struck down by a heart problem and pulled out of the ceremony after realising he was too ill to make the trip.
Meghan, 36, 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.
She walked about half the aisle by herself, with Charles, who himself had his marriage to wife Camilla blessed at the wedding venue.
On May 19, Meghan entered the Chapel alone with Charles waiting further down to escort her from the end of the Nave to the altar.
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The former television lighting director worked on iconic US shows including Married with Children and General Hospital.
In 2011 he won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction for a Drama Series for his work on General Hospital, a long-running US soap.
He was married to Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, in 1979 - but they divorced in 1987.
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