Meghan Markle’s father to walk her down aisle at wedding to UK’s Prince Harry

In this Wednesday April 18, 2018 file photo, Meghan Markle attends a reception with Britain’s Prince Harry for the Commonwealth Youth Forum at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Center, London, during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. (AP)

In this file photo, Meghan Markle, right, watches the closing ceremonies of the Invictus Games with her mother Doria Ragland in Toronto. (AP)

Martin Oates, Senior Carriage Restorer, polishes the Ascot Landau, which will be used in the case of dry weather at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, at the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, London. (Reuters)

LONDON: Meghan Markle’s father will walk her down the aisle when the American actress marries Britain’s Prince Harry this month and both her parents will meet Queen Elizabeth and senior royals in the run-up to the ceremony, Kensington Palace said on Friday.
Both the bride-to-be’s divorced parents, Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland, would have “important roles” in the wedding at Windsor Castle on May 19, Jason Knauf, Harry’s Communications Secretary told reporters.
“On the morning of the wedding, Ms Ragland will travel with Ms Markle by car to Windsor Castle,” Knauf said. “Mr Markle will walk his daughter down the aisle of St. George’s Chapel. Ms Markle is delighted to have her parents by her side on this important and happy occasion.”
There had been speculation about what role Markle’s parents, who divorced when she was six, would play in the wedding ceremony. Thomas Markle, 73, a former lighting director for TV soaps and sitcoms had said he had wanted to give his daughter away.
Knauf said they would fly over from the United States the week before the wedding and both would for the first time meet their new in-laws including the 92-year-old queen, her husband Prince Philip, Harry’s father Prince Charles, Harry’s elder brother William and his wife Kate.
The detail about Markle’s parents was part of a slew of information released by Knauf ahead about the wedding which is attracting massive global media attention.
The three siblings of Harry’s late mother Princess Diana, who was killed in a Paris car crash in 1997 when he was 12, will be at the wedding with her sister Lady Jane Fellowes giving the reading.
“Prince Harry and Ms. Markle both feel honored that Lady Jane will be representing her family and helping to celebrate the memory of the late princess on the wedding day,” Knauf said.
Harry and William, who is his best man, are expected to arrive on foot at the castle’s St. George’s Chapel where the ceremony will be held. Markle will meet her father at the church after arriving by car with her mother.
Knauf also revealed that Markle would not be having a maid of honor, and that the bridesmaids and page boys would all be children.
The queen’s 96-year-old husband Philip is expected to be there having undergone a hip replacement operation last month.
Knauf said the newlyweds would not immediately be heading off on honeymoon and would carry out their first public engagement as a married couple the week after the wedding.