Yesterday it was revealed that the photos of Thomas Markle reading a book in a café were actually staged (along with a slew of others) and now it has been confirmed that Meghan Markle‘s father will no longer be attending the royal wedding.
TMZ reports that he will not attend because he does not want to embarrass Meghan or the royal family.
According to the site, Thomas thinks the photos — which included him getting fitted for his wedding outfit, reading a book about photos of Great Britain, and looking at pictures of Meghan and Harry — are “stupid and hammy,” and that he was following the instructions of the paparazzi agency in posing the photographs in an attempt to improve his image.
He has also revealed he suffered a heart attack just six days ago, and checked himself out of hospital as he had been determined to attend the wedding.
Meghan Markle’s half-sister, Samantha Markle, has also spoken out, claiming it was her idea for her father to stage the photographs. According to the Daily Mail, she advised him to do it to paint him “in a positive light” before he walks Meghan down the aisle on May 19. In a private tweet the Mail screenshotted, Markle admitted her involvement:
“The bad press over my father doing staged photos is my fault. The media was unfairly making him look bad so I suggested he do positive photos for his benefit and and the benefit of the royal family. We had no idea he would be taken advantage of. It was not for money @KensingtonRoyal.”
While Kensington Palace have not specifically confirmed he will not be in attendance, they have released a statement asking for “understanding and respect” to be given to Mr Markle.
“This is a deeply personal moment for Ms Markle in the days before her wedding,” the statement read.
“She and Prince Harry ask again for understanding and respect to be extended to Mr Markle in this difficult situation.”
