The Duchess of Sussex’s father, Thomas Markle, has revealed his daughter cried when he told her he would not be attending her wedding to Prince Harry.
He also expressed his disappointment at not walking her down the aisle.
“I’m a footnote to the greatest moment in history rather than the dad who walked his daughter down the aisle. That upsets me somewhat,” he told ITV’s Good Morning Britain.
He said he watched the event on TV from a B&B in the US after having surgery.
He said he cried while viewing it, describing the duchess as “beautiful” and saying it was “incredible” that “the whole world was watching my daughter”.
Mr Markle told GMB he broke the news that he would not be attending the event in an emotional phone call with Prince Harry and his daughter.
“They were disappointed … and they both said, ‘Take care of yourself, we are really worried about you’,” he said.
Prince Charles walked the duchess down the aisle instead.
Mr Markle said he felt “jealous”, but added: “I was honoured, I can’t think of a better replacement than someone like Prince Charles.
“I was thrilled to tears he was doing that, I just wish it had been my hand holding hers not his.”
The duchess’ father had undergone heart surgery which prevented him from taking part in the ceremony.
Image copyright Reuters
Describing the moment Prince Harry asked for his daughter’s hand in marriage, Mr Markle said he told his future son-in-law: “You are a gentleman, promise me you will never raise your hand against my daughter and of course I will grant you my permission.”
When asked about the possibility of a royal baby being soon on the way, he said his daughter had “wanted children for a long time”.
Brexit and Trump conversations
Mr Markle also said he discussed politics, including the US president and Brexit, with Prince Harry.
“I was complaining about not liking Donald Trump, he said ‘give Donald Trump a chance’,” Mr Markle told GMB.
When asked about their Brexit discussion, he said: “It was just a loose conversation… I think he [the Duke of Sussex] was open to the experiment.”
Paparazzi photos row
In the run-up to the wedding Mr Markle became embroiled in a controversy over reports he had staged paparazzi photos of himself in wedding-related activities, such as being measured for a new suit.
He explained that it was meant to be “a way of improving my look”, adding: “Obviously that all went to hell.”
He said he apologised to both Harry and Meghan.
“I realised it was a serious mistake. It’s hard to take it back,” he said.
The only member of the duchess’ family to attend the wedding was her mother, Doria Ragland.
Speaking about her being at the wedding, he said: “My ex-wife is a beautiful woman. I thought she looked very good.
“I kind of wish she was sitting next to someone.”
Image copyright PA
He revealed 40 to 50 members of the Markle family asked for invites to the wedding.
He said Meghan probably had “the good sense” not to invite any of her other relatives because “she would have offended the others” who were not invited.
