Thomas Markle changed his mind about going to the wedding like 5 times in 24 hours

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle look stylish at the Anzac Day Dawn Service in London

Meghan Markle’s father Thomas Markle clearly has her phone number. He hasn’t been cut off yet. He was invited to the royal wedding. His daughter asked him to be the one to walk her down the aisle in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. That’s how big of a deal it was. And I’m absolutely heartbroken for Meghan that her father can’t stop screwing her over and embarrassing her. First it was the staged photos, then he literally called up TMZ to break the news TO THEM that he wasn’t even going to go to England for the wedding because he was so embarrassed. He didn’t even give Kensington Palace a heads-up. He didn’t even call Meghan first. He called TMZ first, because he thinks he’s Justin Bieber.

Even after all of the chaos he created on Monday and Tuesday, Thomas Markle still didn’t learn his f–king lesson. He called up TMZ AGAIN on Tuesday to announce that he changed his mind and maybe he did want to go to the wedding after all. Notice all of the details he gives to TMZ, especially about how Meghan contacted him:

Meghan Markle’s dad has had a change of heart — this after his daughter contacted him — and he now wants to go to England and walk her down the aisle … but there’s a serious snag. Thomas Markle just told us he’s back in the hospital after experiencing serious chest pains and doctors are performing a battery of tests on him. He says the doctors told him his heart was “seriously damaged” after his heart attack a week ago.

Thomas tells TMZ Meghan tried calling him Monday but he was not near his phone. She followed up with a text telling him she loved him and was concerned about his health. He says she harbors no ill feelings toward him for making a deal with a paparazzi agency to stage photos of him getting ready for the wedding. As for the Queen being upset with him, Thomas scoffed, saying, “I don’t think the Queen is thinking about what I’m doing.”

Thomas says he’s thought about it and now believes what he did with the photos was not a serious transgression, although he calls it “stupid.” He says he now wants to make the trek to England, telling us, “I hate the idea of missing one of the greatest moments in history and walking my daughter down the aisle…. Of course I’d walk her down the aisle. This is a historic moment. I’d like to be a part of history.”

[From TMZ]

“I’d like to be a part of history” – first off, you are already part of history. You’ll be used as a cautionary tale for years in the royal family about rogue relatives and how NOT to handle them. Secondly, who f–king says this about their DAUGHTER? He’s not saying “this is Meg’s special day and I would do anything to be there for her.” That thought doesn’t enter into his mind at all. It’s all about his drama, his weakness, his selfishness, his tackiness.

That TMZ story also included Thomas telling the outlet that if he gets the all-clear to travel, he would totally fly to England. Hours later, THOMAS MARKLE CALLED TMZ AGAIN TO GIVE THEM AN UPDATE. He did not call Meghan. He did not call Kensington Palace. He didn’t give them a heads up so they could all coordinate their statements. Of course not. Why would he do that when he’s clearly the biggest drama queen of the family? So, the second time he called TMZ on Tuesday, he told them that his doctors won’t clear him for travel, because he actually needs heart surgery:

Thomas Markle is not going to walk his daughter, Meghan, down the aisle Saturday, nor will he travel to England, because we’ve learned he’s dealing with something far more serious … major surgery. Thomas tells TMZ, he will go into surgery at 7:30 AM Wednesday. He tells us, “They [doctors] will go in and clear blockage, repair damage and put a stent where it is needed.”

TMZ broke the story, Thomas had a heart attack a week ago and began having chest pains Monday. He checked himself into the hospital Tuesday and a battery of tests determined he needed surgery. Thomas said the heart attack did significant damage.

BTW, Thomas also says he believes the open letter his son, Thomas Jr., wrote to Prince Harry discouraging him from marrying Meghan is what triggered his heart attack.

[From TMZ]

If the heart surgery story is true – and who really f–king knows at this point? – then I feel sorry for him… up to a point. I still have to f–king ask though: why is he calling TMZ from his pre-surgery hospital bed again? Why isn’t he calling Meghan to give her an update? Why is HE insisting on conducting all of this business through TMZ? So tacky. My God.

Prince William, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend an Anzac Day Service

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.

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285 Responses to “Thomas Markle changed his mind about going to the wedding like 5 times in 24 hours”

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  1. Clare says:

    Selfish, self important AND stupid. What a combination.

    …he may actually be WORSE than his daughter and son. Go away. Stop calling TMZ. Stop embarrassing your kid. If you want to get YOUR story out there (but, why??) do it through HER team. What a nightmare.

    Also, the Thomas Markle is sick and his daughter didn’t get him to England soon enough narrative has got to go. Ill people can deal with their shit privately and with dignity. This guy CHOSE not to.

    • Goats on the Roof says:

      Exactly. People were defending this man yesterday, and I was in a state of shock over it. Yes, he’s older and may not understand paparazzi (doubtful, the man made his career in Hollywood), but that doesn’t excuse him from ringing up TMZ so many times I’ve lost count to discuss his plans for the wedding. His daughter should be his concern first and foremost and instead she has to keep hitting the refresh on TMZ to find out if her own father plans to attend her wedding. It’s disgraceful.

      • Megan says:

        Let’s just hope the doctors can keep him alive through the weekend.

      • jwoolman says:

        It’s precisely because of his Hollywood background that he may feel comfortable talking with TMZ, which long ago was actually a respectable source of real news before the tv show. He may have a connection with one of their staffers and feels comfortable talking with the staffer.

        I doubt that Meghan is surprised. He has mixed feelings about the whole thing for a variety of reasons. She has her mother as a backup for the walk down the aisle. If he recently had a heart attack and is dealing with surgery, it makes no sense for him to make the trip. I don’t know why everybody is piling up on the guy. He didn’t betray his daughter. He just sold some pictures of himself and is chatting with somebody at TMZ. Let Buckingham Palace stew about it if they really want to do so, but his “transgressions” seem so minor compared to ones by royals.

      • barrett says:

        Does he also suffer from anxiety?

      • imqrious2 says:

        In Hollywood, there have ALWAYS been paparazzi, SM is relatively new (in the last 20 yrs or so). There is NO WAY this man doesn’t know how “the system” works, esp. working on a soap and Married With Children, one of the most highly rated shows of the time. He is just as big of a POS as his two older kids (apples, trees people). Meg, thankfully, is more Ragland, and her mom was, obviously, her stronger influence.

        I’m still not buying the heart attack crap. If he had such a bad attack that left that much damage (last week!), there is NO WAY he could’ve/would’ve been making that 4 hr. trek from his home in Mexico up to LA, stopping for fast food, milkshakes, and a bottle of beer (!!). Yeah.. BS Buddy.

        The beyotch sister is back squawking about how Meg. “cannot silence me! I have freedom of speech here!” Sigh… just exhausting.

        That whole side of the family just needs to go slither back under their rocks. They are vile!

      • Carrie1 says:

        I referred to his health and age but in no way did that excuse how he handled this. Having experienced estrangement from family myself (my choice) for personal safety, my heart goes out to both Meghan and her Dad *because* she cited her Dad previously as being instrumental in her developing personal strength. She loves her Dad, even tho he’s not the greatest Dad, and I completely relate to this.

        All stated, I hope Meghan and Harry have a happy wedding day. And I hope Meghan is happy in whatever she decides she needs to do for her life going forward. I also wish her Dad peace. I don’t want to hear anything from her half siblings ever again.

      • Tiffany :) says:

        “TMZ, which long ago was actually a respectable source of real news before the tv show.”

        I strongly disagree with this. It was always an entertainment and celebrity-focused tabloid. It started in 2005, so it isn’t like he grew up with this site. It has never been about “real news”.

    • Alissa says:

      I couldn’t understand why everyone was so insistent that he walk her down the aisle, and now they’re so shocked he’s a moron.

      just because he’s her father doesn’t mean he doesn’t suck.

      • Morning Coffee says:

        Exactly. And why does a woman, in this day and age, need to be “given away.” Let her walk herself down the aisle, join the Firm and ditch her awful family once and for all.

    • Nicole says:

      Exactly. I couldn’t believe how many people were defending this nonsense yesterday. They weren’t even “haters” either! Blown away by the willingness to pretend that this wasn’t completely mortifying for her.
      Yesterday when the story broke he called TMZ and not his child. Every time I checked there was a new call to TMZ and not his child. Essentially TMZ (a trash site) had an inside line to the drama because of him.
      I feel sorry if he’s having surgery but that does not excuse his whiplash behavior. Poor Meghan.

      • PoodleMama says:

        So…TMZ is paying him for those scoops right?

      • LadyMTL says:

        @PoodleMama My thoughts exactly. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if TMZ is paying this guy, it would go a long way towards explaining why he all of a sudden seems to have them on speed-dial.

        At this point, if I were Meghan, I’d wash my hands of him and say “just stay home. I’ll walk myself down the aisle, TYVM.”

      • jj says:

        Agree, if he does decide to go last minute, I wish she would just tell him not to bother.

    • Honest B says:

      I’ll bet there’s no surgery.

      • Adele Dazeem says:

        Agreed. Just more drama and lies. So embarrassing.

      • bluhare says:

        I don’t think it’s open heart surgery. He’s having blockage unplugged and a stent put in. That’s normally same day or over night.

        And his son didn’t cause a heart attack. Poor health habits, weigbt and genes likely did. IF it was a heart attack and not angina.

      • Jesb says:

        From the description,it’s not surgery. It’s a procedure. Open heart surgery does not involve stents. Stents are places during a procedure that usually requires an overnight stay. Maybe 2. Not without risk, but not nearly as serious as open heart surgery.

      • Veronica T says:

        I just read that CNN is at the hospital and he hadn’t shown up yet? But maybe I’m getting an older story?
        I don’t know why anyone is shocked that this is a complete circus!! The tiniest bit of investigating would have shown that Meghan’s entire family, and I’m reserving judgement on her mother due to those Oprah rumors, is fame hungry and unhinged. This was to be expected from people like this.
        Circus.

    • Sammy Sushi says:

      Kaiser is right, out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

      Mr Markle is focused on his role, as the father of the bride, for all the wrong reasons, his place in history. Meghan and her day is not as important. Calling TMZ as his confidante in all of this is disgusting and has nothing to do w mental issues unless he is a narcissist.

      Do we need a letter campaign to Harvey to stop giving these white trash Markles their 15 minutes of fame?

      • B says:

        Everything you said Kaiser, couldn’t have spewed/articulated it better and verbatim…thanks!

    • Anne says:

      Exactly!

      I would have been super pissed if my father pulled this crap on me privately, never mind through a tabloid. Honestly, it’s your daughter’s wedding. Make the time.

      He’s just an awful father.

    • MerrymerrymonthofMay says:

      TMZ should stop taking his calls.

  2. lala says:

    because he has never been invited to the wedding.

    • whatever1 says:

      The more I think about it the more I believe it could be true. Doria was taken to the airport by a driver in a blacked out SUV and possibly an assistant, it doesn’t look like Thomas received the same kind of assistance to get to the UK. I think KP just put him in the press release to stop any negative press of Meghan abandoning / not including her father but they never had any intention of getting Thomas to the UK for the wedding.

      • Clare says:

        Man, if that’s what happened, KP have REALLY dropped the ball. I mean, its really amateur hour, how they’ve handled this whole fracas from start to end – but if KP put out that press release before handling him first…that’s straight up incompetence.

      • KBB says:

        How do you know he didn’t have a pickup scheduled for yesterday too until he found out he had to have surgery? I’m sure they had the same arrangements for him.

        If the plan was to keep him away all along, it would have been done a lot smoother than this. The health concerns would have been the first thing we heard, directly from the palace, as an explanation as to why he was unable to attend.

      • Elisa says:

        No, I think he was invited. He would have already spilled the beans to TMZ if he wasn’t…

      • Masamf says:

        Please, let us remember that Doria is closer to Meghan and Harry than Thomas Sr. is. Let us also remember that Doria went to the UK at a time when all hell had already broken loose. We will never know what could have been, but it could also be that all these arrangements had been made for Mr. Markle too but we’re rescinded once those pictures started appearing in the papers. KP knew at that point that it was just a matter of time before he got exposed so they decided to distance themselves. I’m sorry but I strongly believe this senior citizen was made a human sacrifice to appease the tabloids. I’m beginning to believe that lack of protection of his interests was intentional on KP part.

      • Nicole says:

        Except it seems more plausible that Doris delayed her trip to make sure he got there. Someone floated that idea yesterday and that seems more likely. That they were probably going to travel together

    • Goats on the Roof says:

      Okay, maybe, but why would dad go along with the story he was invited? The man clearly has TMZ on speed dial and could have called them at any time to set the record straight if he felt snubbed.

      • Clare says:

        @Goats, I guess it increased his value, right? Being invited? If he has been summarily excluded from the start, sure TMZ would still talk to him, but I suppose he would be paid less, than he is now? Shrug.

        Although, I disagree that he wasn’t invited – I think he was, I think KP thought all bases were covered and didn’t have a contingency plan when he went rogue – its a fing Mickey Mouse show.

      • Goats on the Roof says:

        Clare

        “Poor, slighted, doddering Mr Markle, who only loves his daughter and wants to support her on her big day, is heartbroken over not being invited to the royal wedding” would have made him plenty, I think. The sister, brother, and former best friend all made tidy sums selling Meg’s secrets and old pictures, why wouldn’t dad?

        I think the man was invited, agreed to come, and is now flaking in the biggest, most humiliating way possible.

      • Elisa says:

        ITA with Goats (saw your comment only after I wrote mine)

    • Sofija says:

      But than he would say that to his good friends at TMZ. That they all (Meghan,Harry,KP) are liars and he never saw an invitation for this wedding and he never spoke with Meghan about wedding and that is way he has heart problems because she hurt his feelings and so on…. he was invited but probably could not handle the pressure. Maybe KP offered him some PR people to help him and he refused because he worked in HW so he thought that he understands “showbusiness” and so on… who knows what the real truth is here and it is so strange that he calls TMZ so many times. I am from Europe and even I know that TMZ is just trash.

      • Natalie S. says:

        The guy blamed one of his kids for his heart problems. That’s a disgusting thing to do. The guy is trash. Couldn’t speak up for Meghan but will throw his kids under the bus to speak up for himself and his attempts to gain sympathy.

    • Natalie S. says:

      So Thomas staged all of this to cover up his embarrassment at not being invited, including the Daily Mail scandal? That’s diabolical!

      • Goats on the Roof says:

        Except…KP announced that her dad was invited and would meet Meg and her mother upon arrival to the chapel so he could escort Meg down the aisle. Unless Tom infiltrated the KP press team and had an inside man plant that particular announcement, there’s really no way at all this story makes sense.

      • Natalie S says:

        I mean, clearly he staged that too. It turns out that rather than being a run of the mill narcissist, Thomas Markle is actually Keyser Soze.

      • Masamf says:

        Hahahaha, @Natalie S. your Keyser Soze comment made me ROTFALMBO.

    • Tan says:

      That was my first thought yesterday. All the drama and DM reveal seemed to be like a elaborate game to absolve Meghan of the bad press and PR she otherwise would have got.

      Maybe Thomas called TMZ as his way throwing tantrum and flipping the bird.

      But I disregarded the idea because it just seemed way to nasty and convoluted and conniving from both sides.

      I am judging the hell out of everyone involved in the mess.

    • AbbyRose says:

      Kensington Palace put out an official statement 2-3 weeks ago confirming he would be there and walk her down the aisle. He was invited and expected to be there. What I’m scratching my head over is why KP did not have a tighter handle on this guy sooner. Send over a courtier to explain everything to him. Fly him to England earlier so he could get used to the place. Why did Harry, who has all the resources in the world at his disposal not get on a plane and meet him before he proposed to Meghan. He took Meghan to Botswana for three weeks, but didn’t meet her father? Mr. Marble has his issues, but the palace really screwed this up too.

      • Anastasia says:

        I mean, you can’t FORCE a person to do something. What if they tried all that and he wouldn’t get on the plane, wouldn’t listen to the courtier or other palace employee?

    • C says:

      @lala I totally agree!!! And this situation now is beyond a joke. What a circus!

      • smcollins says:

        Agreed, what a fiasco. To be honest I wasn’t all that invested before (at least not beyond thinking they made a cute couple), but I’m kind of all in now. Just when you thought things couldn’t get worse or more embarrassing after the half-sibling’s antics here comes Dad all “hold my beer (or should that be Big Mac?)…” It really is painfully obvious why she’s chosen to distance herself from these people.

    • Sherry says:

      Didn’t KP announce he would be walking Meghan down the aisle before all of this drama started? I strongly believe that Mr. Markle has an anxiety disorder and is too embarrassed/ashamed to tell his daughter firsthand that he’s not coming. He’s making up excuses as to why he is unable to attend, which is exactly what people with anxiety disorders do.

      Whatever is going on with him, he doesn’t have guts enough to tell Meghan he’s not coming, so he’s doing it through a third party, TMZ so he doesn’t have to face her disappointment directly. Some of the wording in the stories that have come out from Meghan and Harry’s side, make me think she knows he has severe anxiety and is worried about what all of this is doing to him.

      I really feel so sorry for her. At least she has Harry, her mom and her friends to lean on.

      • Maria says:

        I totally agree. My theory is that Meghan knew he couldn’t handle it, but then KP convinced her that it would look better if he came. Come on, she knows him better than KP does. He didn’t attend her first wedding and didn’t come to Toronto for the Invictus game, which would have been a shorter journey. In any case, the whole thing blew up in his face and in her face. He clearly isn’t well, physically and probably mentally. I don’t get all the hate on this site, he is not an evil man, just troubled. Some people are acting as if he murdered somebody in cold blood. How did he sell his daughter down the river? The pics were of himself, getting fitted, carrying weights, nothing that despicable as some of you make out to be. Out of respect for Meghan, who probably had feelings for her dad, it would be nice if people didn’t attack him as if he were the personification of Hitler.
        I know I will be bashed over this, so I will see myself out.

      • lobbit says:

        I agree with this so hard.

      • imqrious2 says:

        Maria, you DO realize the photos you gave as “proof” of his “caring” were the staged photos set up by him and his older, unstable daughter Samantha? The ones that he got the pap to shoot and sold?

      • Erinn says:

        imqrious2

        She didn’t use those as proof that he was caring. She’s saying that instead of selling stories about Meghan or selling off photos of her as a child, or whatnot he was selling photos of himself. He was selling access to himself. Is it embarrassing to MM? Probably somewhat. But he wasn’t selling her out in the sort of way that her other half siblings did. He wasn’t selling stories about her. Does it make him some kind of saint? No. But it also isn’t as if he’s done some sort of unspeakable crime. The level of outrage really doesn’t match what happened. Nobody is saying his actions were appropriate – simply that the outrage doesn’t seem to reflect the ‘crime’. I had horrible family drama for my wedding. A lot of people do, unfortunately. It doesn’t at all make it okay – but it also isn’t completely unusual. She shouldn’t have to deal with that sort of thing – especially on this scale. But EVERYTHING is going to be on this kind of scale for her now. She’s chosen to work in a very public industry, and now she’s marrying Harry. It’s a shame that it’s all happening, and it’s a shame that her dad is involved. But plenty of normal people have to sadly go through this kind of thing too.

      • Masamf says:

        Nope Maria Im not bashing you, please stay, don’t leave: ITAWY and Erinn actually

      • Helen Smith says:

        I agree with the mental health angle for Thomas Sr. Someone who eats that much fast food is feeding their emotions be it anxiety or depression. No one eats that much fast food for their health.

    • Violet says:

      @c – ITA. If he had been, it would have been upfront by February. I think that the PR around this, the sudden late announcement that he would walk her down the aisle, etc., the US article about how close they were and how supportive of him she has always been, was to soften the reality of the depth of estrangement between Meghan and not only her half-sibs but her father, too. I don’t think she even wanted him there, truthfully, but was hesitant to be open about that. Mind you, I don’t blame her after seeing his antics, but I can understand how she would want to keep that back. It was probably an impossible situation and they’re probably grateful for the outcome. But very badly handled. But at least she’s shet of him, as they say in New England.

      • Masamf says:

        @Violet, Meghan has posted on the Tig and on Insta and commented that she was close with her father, this declaration is not random.

  3. Naomi says:

    Tom Markle, has made a mistake in the staged photos, yes I know that quid pro quo is the norm when it comes to these type of things but he should have maintained his own dignity by refusing to fall into such an obvious trap designed really to hurt his daughter. If he wanted an example of dignified silence done for the love of a child and self decency he needs to look no further than his ex wife. Stay away from TMZ.

    Reading what LAK, said yesterday that the negative press attention is something of the chickens coming home to roost for Prince Harry, makes me think why KP and he haven’t learned from multiple opportunities that the UK tabloid press is rabid and agenda driven to make the worst of people. They should have contained the situation by making sure that Tom Markle was susceptible to the machinations of the tabloid press and his daughter.

    Finally the tabloid press especially the daily heil can burn and ultimately we the public who avidly read and gossip about people’s misery.

    • midigo says:

      He doesn’t look like the sharpest tool, you know. Maybe he is a serious case of dumbness, That kind of guy who doesn’t ask for advice nor listens to people with more knowledge and experience.

    • Addie says:

      Harry and co feel they are invincible – entitlement and all that – so it’s others who have to change. He has a huge PR force at his disposal to make things go his way. It is a bad state of affairs when a 6th in line to a figurehead institution, a man with no discernible job, can influence the level of press freedom permitted. No-one is innocent here so no worth taking sides.

    • Marlene says:

      They should have flown her father over to Britain two months ago and put him up in a castle somewhere to keep him away from the tabloids.

  4. Maum says:

    I don’t feel sorry for him one bit.

    He’s an arsehole.
    It’s all about him and he doesn’t care one jot for his daughter (history, really????)- if he did he would have shut the hell up and sorted the situation behind the scenes and come to a decision. And then say nothing more and we would have seen who would have walked Meghan down the aisle on Saturday.

    I think he’s lying miserably. I imagine Meghan probably wanted her mother to walk down the aisle and after the stunt her father pulled she told him where to go.
    Does she really want Mr TMZ to be involved in her wedding?

    Sad thing is that he is ruining it for her- he’s playing the poor-me-heart-attack card, which is likely to make her feel shit on her big day.
    No winners there, but one big fat loser.

  5. Janet says:

    This is what happens when you don’t do the right thing. Meghan should have made sure both her parents were well taken of before the last week of the wedding – they should have been in the UK long before this getting adjusted. As for her witch of a sister, there are no words same also for her dad calling TMZ.

    • SK says:

      What? How on earth is this her fault?? She may have offered to fly him a week ago and he picked the timing. Come on now… Meghan is not responsible for her father’s behaviour or his health woes.

    • Goats on the Roof says:

      From what I understand, Meghan’s mom was finishing her professional obligations to her current practice before leaving. Her dad has been waffling over whether to attend, although he’s not really telling Meghan that; he’d rather get TMZ on the line. There’s simply no reason to think Meghan told her mother OR her father that they had to wait until Tuesday/Wednesday before she would fly them out.

      • Purplehazeforever says:

        I’m not sure what I think anymore. All I know is he was quiet and a recluse until photos pop up of him in March. It’s possible he suffers from severe anxiety or he’s just a moron or both. I do think his oldest daughter manipulated him here because she wanted to make Meghan look bad. Instead only her father does. Calling up TMZ, not your daughter? I understand he’s embarrassed but stop.

      • perplexed says:

        That’s what I’m confused by too – the fact that he kept silent for so long and then suddenly bursts out talking days before the wedding!

      • lobbit says:

        Looking back, the way he behaved in the last month suggests that he was carefully planning an escape. Think of the “scenes” he set up in those photo ops: working out, learning more about his daughter’s new home, getting fitted for a suit – he wanted the world (and perhaps Meghan) to think that he was gearing up for this wedding. Meanwhile, his (younger) brother was telling the press that Thomas would have to “confront his demons” and get his daughter down the aisle. As someone upthread pointed out, Thomas Sr. is probably grappling with anxiety and he’s going to TMZ because he can’t cope with telling his daughter that he’s not up to this whole wedding thing.

  6. Digital Unicorn says:

    I don’t think he ever intended to go and Meghan knows this – am sure he pulled the same sh!t at her first wedding. He’s humiliated her far more than her toxic siblings ever have but no one can ever accuse her of not trying with him – this is all on him, all of it. Neither she or Harry should either blame themselves or make any excuses – he has an opportunity to be a man and a father and he is proving to be neither. The fact that he continues to go to TMZ to explain himself rather than to his daughter and letting KP handle the comms around this is telling – he will be getting paid for every time to talks to them.

    With regards to who will walk her down the aisle, I think it will either be Chuck or a male friend – I would love to see her with her mother but maybe her mom doesn’t want to do it.

    • Clare says:

      Right? Can we stop singing from the ‘poor Thomas Markle his daughter didn’t take care of him’ song sheet? It’s utterly ridiculous. He is a grown ass man acting like an absolute fool, and embarrassing his daughter, publicly, in the process. F him.

    • midigo says:

      “With regards to who will walk her down the aisle”…I would walk alone. She is a fully-grown and independent woman, she earned everything she has, she has been married before, she has a past and definitely she has a bright future. I think she has the right to walk alone and be proud of herself.

      • boredblond says:

        Agree! I’ve always been bothered by the ‘giving a woman away scenario just because it’s tradition

    • Natalie S says:

      I agree. I think he may have just told everyone whatever they wanted to hear and now when he actually has to do something, all his anxiety is pouring out. If the DM story hadn’t happened, they may have convinced him to go but after that it was over. My guess is he’s always this jumpy, they just managed to keep him quiet until now.

      Also,if he’s an avoidant type of person, who’s to say he even wanted Harry to ever meet him in Mexico. If he’s so embarrased, who knows how many other things he’s flaked out of through the relationship?

      • Tonya says:

        Loving these contributions…

        Some commentators seem to lack empathy & refuse to acknowledge facts because of bias…

        Thomas Markle has anxiety issues…he also is a manipulative & compulsive liar…The very press he has courted …yes, he arranged for his friends to be models, guided the paps to Doria’s porch (to deflect), claims to have heart issues (to gain sympathy & to deflect)…I could go on & on…claims Jr’s letter caused his heart attack…etc.

        The man is egotistical, manipulative & a coward…

      • Masamf says:

        Before Meghan started dating Harry, we (her fans) knew little to nothing about her father. She posted a few times about how much she loved her dad etc, but she never went into details about any of her private life. So, since we know zilch about the guy, it makes me so sad to see how cruelly he’s being judged harshly just because he made this one mistake, ONE mistake. He is a 73 year old guy (senior citizens more susceptible to manipulation), and I think he has a lot of issues including but not limited to body image, hygiene and probably mental health issues. In all his pictures, he has always been over weight, so it could be that he has eating problem issues that date way back to before even Meghan was born, IDK. And all these are things one would not be proud of and give them reason to push everyone away. Maybe Meghan wanted, more than anything, for him to meet her then boyfriend before even the engagement but he wouldn’t have it, maybe putting it off till he loses some weight and is more presentable to a prince, I mean we really don’t know. My prayers are for this man to pull through and stay on a good mental health course, prayers and good wishes for my favorite couple Haz and Meg for a successful wedding and life after that, a life full of happiness, laughter, kids, and a lot of blessings. I wish for them to look back to this one day and say, wow, looks like we come a long way but we really did make it!

      • Natalie S. says:

        @Masamf. It’s not one mistake.

        To date, he has taken advice from Samantha Markle who has been openly abusive of Meghan, roped Doria into his staged pictures, blamed his son for his heart problems, and repeatedly called TMZ instead of returning Meghan’s phonecalls.

        He talks about wanting to be part of history instead of wanting to support his daughter. I can’t see where in his actions he has put Meghan first. And all his actions have been about his self-image. That doesn’t say mentally ill to me, that says self-absorbed. My guess is Meghan already knows this about her father and has accepted it but I don’t feel sorry for someone who is so self-focused.

      • Masamf says:

        @Natalie, Yes its one mistake. That mistake of having pictures of HIMSELF taken is what resulted in him being busted, then his subsequent calls to TMZ, that’s just one mistake. And I still believe he was duped not only by the paparazzi that took his pictures but by those at TMZ that lied to him that they had his back. Once they gained his trust, they stabbed him in the back repeatedly.
        His daughter said something that caught my attention and Im just not getting how KP never caught onto this: The paps rented a place next door to him, trained their cameras at his door, followed him everywhere, etc. This has been ongoing for months, MONTHS. He probably finally agreed to do the pictures just to get them off of his back and also because they convinced him that they would repair his image.

      • Natalie S. says:

        I think there can be room for kindness but when it veers into someone avoiding taking responsibility for their actions, then it’s enabling.

        Thomas has consistently shown a lack of thought towards anyone but himself. He cares more about his self-image than being there for his daughter. He responds to TMZ before her. He was willing to work with the press to make himself look good not to speak up for his daughter. He wants to be part of history rather than being distraught that he won’t get to be with Meghan. The paparazzi didn’t do that. They can’t make him avoid Meghan’s calls or avoid expressing concern for her. They didn’t make him finally call out his other two kids but only in the context of talking about his own feelings. It’s the Thomas Markle Show, apparently.

        The messiness of his life is his responsibility and quite often there are people who use the kindness and sympathy of others to avoid dealing with their problems. When someone makes a mistake, I look to see how they’re fixing it. If a person’s life is a snowball of mistakes, then I see a lack of willingness to take responsibility. His instinct was to run away and to only talk about his needs.

        At some point people have to accept that the person is choosing their misbehavior over the feelings and needs of the people around him and it’s okay to be angry about that and judge that.

  7. goofpuff says:

    i would have cancelled him walking me down the aisle if i was her, even he bothered to show up. he needs to stop listening to that awful sisters advice. the repeated calls to TMZ is enough to solidify his asshattery to me. one call is a mistake – repeated calls is a life choice. i wonder if somebody is getting a payoff for this – him or that nasty step sister.

    • Alissa says:

      they’re half sisters.

    • Masamf says:

      It seems like the calls to TMZ stopped suddenly!! Now its all crickets!! Did KP wise up? Just wondering!

      • imqrious2 says:

        Nope. TMZ was on the phone with him right after his surgery, 45 min, ago. with an update. It is truly mind-boggling!

  8. HeyThere! says:

    This needs to stop. Ugh. Poor Meghan!!! This is awful. Thankfully for MM her mom is on the way to help her emotionally. What a dark cloud of crap surrounding her wedding.

  9. lunde says:

    I feel really sorry for Meghan and Harry that her father’s family are so selfish and turning her wedding into a shambles. Thomas Markle and the siblings are totally drama lamas and seem to have the gossip sites and tabloids on speed dial. Her father seems happy to cause chaos and then blame everyone else for his behaviour.

    I disagree with everyone blaming KP – how can they crisis manage someone who doesn’t want to be managed and is ringing in gossip about himself for money?

    • whatever1 says:

      By slapping NDA’s on all the shady family members as soon as they realised that Harry was in love with Meghan – which would have been about late summer/early autumn 2016.

      There are two senerios of why this has turned in to an epic mess…

      Either KP didn’t listen to Meghan when she told them that her family was a train wreak…

      Or Meghan didn’t disclose how shady certain family members were until they all started selling negative stories about her, leaving KP and the royal lawyers flat-footed and playing catchup.

      • Goats on the Roof says:

        Yeah, but you can’t force people to sign NDAs if they don’t want to. I could hardly imagine Samantha, Tom Jr, or that old friend signing them…they saw the $$$ and signing an NDA would have gotten in the way of their quick buck.

      • Toot says:

        The way Meghan’s family behaves NDA wouldn’t work.

        Meghans sister started talking as soon as she was revealed to be dating Harry. She and the brother would say they couldn’t talk because they signed something making people think something scandalous was being hidden when we see now these folks have nothing on Meghan.

      • Mariposa says:

        Good analysis, I think the same thing. Either she didn’t want to be open with them about what her family was like, or she tried and they just ignored it. I go with the latter, because Harry even publicly commented on how his family was the family she never had. This is a PR cluster f#@k of the highest proportions.

      • Lizabeth says:

        How could anyone “slap NDAs” on Meghan’s family Whatever1? They aren’t employees of the BRF. That kind of situation is where NDAs are typically used– where the “muzzled” party is being paid for services by the “muzzler.” Or they are used as part of a legal civil settlement. Are you suggesting all these shady family members should have been proactively sued in the US and Mexico by a royal family in Britain? Not sure how that could work but if it could, sued for what? Being jerks about a wedding? Or are you saying they should have been paid off and as a condition of the payoff had to sign NDAs? That sounds pretty distasteful and likely would mean future needs to pay them off as well as future court actions for NDA violations. But I’m not sure how one would force them to sign NDAs in the first place if neither of the above applies (they do have to be signed by the parties…one can’t just deliver a document to people that legally mandates their silence!)

      • Janet says:

        Exactly. KP never took Meghan seriously when she warned them . The shenanigans is way out.

      • Nicole says:

        NDAs don’t work that way (can’t force someone to sign) and did you see the latest on TMZ?! That’s exactly why an NDA wouldn’t work. They are shameless

      • Olenna says:

        This business about Markle Thing One and Markle Thing Two signing NDAs is absurd. The half-siblings have no honor, no loyalty and no shame. Most importantly, they do not have one pot to piss in between the two of them, so what are the legal and financial consequences to them if they violate an NDA (which they surely would for more $$$)? Taking these two thick-skinned grifters to court would prove futile.

      • minx says:

        What everyone has said. You can’t “slap” NDAs on anyone.

      • Green Girl says:

        I agree with everyone that NDAs would not work with this branch of Meghan’s family.

        It is also possible that before this drama went down, Meghan could have honestly believed that her family would never stoop so low. I have relatives that I don’t see often and that I disagree with on many things, but I wouldn’t think they would do such a thing (YMMV). Then again, if they have the world’s press calling them up at all hours looking for a scoop, who knows what they would say in this situation?

      • Nic919 says:

        Using NDAs on everyone is the Trump way of dealing with things and they are mostly unenforceable anyway. How would it look if the BRF was always in court suing Americans about telling tales? Pretty horrible.

    • LAK says:

      Simplest move would be a media blackout. They’ve done it before. Numerous times. Even where the story is really salacious and has already been reported.

      One phone call to the IPSO and UK media stop giving the Markles a platform. International media might continue to report on the story, but as they aren’t the target audience, it would lose steam and die down completely.

      • perplexed says:

        “One phone call to the IPSO and UK media stop giving the Markles a platform.”

        I was wondering why they hadn’t done that — just tell the UK shows not to hire the Markles to speak or whatever it is they’re doing.

        I read that even the half-brother’s ex-wife had been hired as a commentator, and I had no idea why the ex-wife who isn’t an in-law anymore was being given a platform to talk.

      • Elisa says:

        Hey LAK, is it really so easy to embargo the Markles? What about press freedom? I’m not from the UK so I’m a bit shocked that the RF could force the British media to do this. At the end of the day it’s just gossip and not some state secrets?!

      • Clare says:

        Are they really on UK shows? On what channel? I admit I am not their target audience, but I’ve literally not seen these people on TV once…so it can’t be that UK media are inundated with them?

        I imagine they are all over the tabs – but I again won’t click on them and give them my ad $ so I dno’t really know.

        Basically I’m asking – what UK outlets are hiring these fools, so I can avoid them, please?

      • feral child says:

        This speaks volumes to what Meghan faces if she goes through with the wedding. I hope she doesn’t, she deserves better from her future family. I’m sure Harry is a good partner but is that enough when she has to face headline after headline?

        sometimes love just isn’t enough.

      • The Hench says:

        Yes, exactly. I’m perplexed as to why the hell this hasn’t been shut down already with a media blackout. It’s been going on for months. Early in the relationship Harry broke cover and usual protocol with his letter asking the press to leave Meghan alone. Really surprised that they haven’t shut down the various platforms that her shady relatives are now shouting from.

      • kacy says:

        I disagree. With MM being American, there is a lot of vested interest here from those who follow these things. The US press, like TMZ, would continue to blaze it out, and then they would get flak for interfering with the UK press.

      • Lady D says:

        Elisa, their website says “IPSO is the independent regulator of most of the UK’s newspapers and magazines. We protect people’s rights, uphold high standards of journalism and help to maintain freedom of expression.” I guess if they decide a story will harm someone’s rights they can stop it.

      • Nic919 says:

        I don’t know if it would help the BRF if the Markles went to US media and said the UK press was blocked from speaking with them. In the age of the internet, national boundaries start to become meaningless with these kinds of things.

        But really her half siblings could be ignored, it’s the fact that her dad was direct dialing TMZ that made this so bad.

  10. midigo says:

    How such a gorgeous and classy woman came out of this messy tacky selfish parent, relatives and childhood friends is beyond my comprehension.

    • Goats on the Roof says:

      Her mom is, by all accounts, a lovely woman and did the bulk of Meghan’s raising.

      • midigo says:

        Right. Her mom certainly is a great woman.

      • Liberty says:

        This. Her mother seems lovely and grounded – Meghan was fortunate in at least one parent.

      • Carrie1 says:

        Yep. If you have one good person amidst a sea of abusers, it can make a world of difference. Her mom seems wonderful.

    • Louise177 says:

      The irony is that the racists thought Meghan was trash for being black. But it’s her white relatives who truly are. Until the last few days I thought her dad was on Meghan’s side. He didn’t say or do anything. Turns out he’s as bad has his kids.

      • HelloSunshine says:

        Such a good point about the racism. Wonder what those people have to say about the fact that it’s her white family members that are making a mess of everything and embarrassing the royal family while MM has handled this situation with grace?

    • artistsnow says:

      Two overly controlling emotionally uninvolved parents produced me: very sensitive, emotional, nurturing vulnerable thin skinned woman.

      WE DID NOT CHOOSE OUR PARENTS.
      WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR PARENTS CHOICES OR EVEN WHO THEY ARE.

      I have a SLEW of inappropriate relatives. This is NOT my fault. And NONE of the circus involving the Markles has anything at all to do with Meghan.

  11. Nell says:

    Yes, he’s a drama queen, selfish, silly etc. He’s all that.

    When I wanted to get married my mum didn’t approve of my husband cos we don’t speak the same language (he’s from a different ethnic group from me) but my dad totally approved. Knowing that my mum will always want to cause drama (which she did), my dad advised me and my hubby to woo her. We don’t stay in the same state with my parents, but my hubby and I made it a point of duty to call her every other day and send her money from time to time to ‘ soften the ground.’ She eventually came for my wedding and tried to cause drama as usual but it was something we easily mitigated because we had already made efforts be to Carry her along as soon as we decided to get married.

    On my father’s part, I had to first travel alone to tell officially tell my father about my fiance, later on, I travelled again with my then fiance all the way to our home town which is an 8-hour journey so that he would meet my dad. My elder sis did the same when she wanted to marry. Where we come from, it’s a HUGE deal. It shows the man you want to marry has respect for your family.

    Cultures are different but it would not have been out of place for Meghan to take Harry to Mexico to go and meet her dad as a mark of respect.. If they could go to Botswana, they could as well made out time to see him in Mexico. If Meghan’s dad was rich and very influential, Harry would have traveled to see him. I assure you that if they had handled this situation well, they would have been able to mitigate and control his shenanigans

    Cultivate a relationship with

    • Alissa says:

      NOPE. this is not on them. if you have to baby your parents like this so they’re not disrespectful jerks about you making an adult decision as an adult, then your parents are just jerks.

      no disrespect to your culture, but that’s not the culture for Meghan, Harry, or Meghan’s family, so it can’t really be applied here.

      • Goats on the Roof says:

        Seriously. If I had to butter my parents up with money to get them to accept me and/or my spouse, I think I’d just not bother. Buying approval and affection, really?

      • Clare says:

        Nope nope nope. No one should be expected to create a cottage industry around keeping their parents on board so they don’t go rogue and spill shit to TMZ. Come on.

        I’m glad you were able to contain the situation with your mum, and more power to you – but to blame the child for their parent acting like a selfish loon is just not on.

      • Carnivalbaby says:

        I think there is alot we don’t know. How do we know what exactly Meghan told Harry and his fam about the risks associated with her family? At the end of the day this is their wedding to each other, but it is a event for the world. There are risks that should have been properly assessed and managed and that did not happen. I may not be American culture to try and get cool parents to warm to your potential spouse but its the right thing to do. Knowing the risks associated with the sister, it made sense to ensure that the father had a full understanding of how significant this is and do an end run around sister’s shenanigans. Because of the event and the stakes no amount of crisis management planning is too much. Yes they are in love but this is a business too. I get that there is great love for Meghan on this site but frankly while i wish them all the best, I am sure we all know a female or male friend who has blinded by the possibility of the prize and didnt clearly understand the stakes involved.

        As for why her Dad is talking to TMZ? He lives in Mexico – maybe he has a phone with a package to free calls in the US – may he texts them and they text him back before she does? Her responses are obviously PR approved – that takes layers of approval. If she wanted him at her wedding her Mom and her knew they kind of man he is and should have had an inkling that this kind of spectacle was a possibility. The fault is on all sides.

      • Jenns says:

        Carnivalbaby – you are SERIOUSLY saying that the reason he’s in touch with TMZ is because they text back before Meghan. How about he shouldn’t be in any contact with them?! It should matter who responds faster because she shouldn’t have contact with them at all!

        Meghan is not at fault for asking her father to be at her wedding, even” knowing the kind of man he is”. She could have offered lots of support or none, but his being a decent human is all on his shoulders. He chose to be a coward.

    • Squirrelgirl says:

      Errrg why are we dog piling on Meghan for other people’s behavior??? Tom is a grown ass man! Meghan is 36 and Harry 33… All adults who are responsible for themselves. This is all on Tom. HIS choices and actions. Not hers. Would we be blaming Harry if Charles was getting shifty before the wedding? Probably not!

      • Person3514 says:

        I don’t think people are blaming Megan for her families behavior. They are blaming her and the palace for not getting a handle on these people and the press. We all agree that her father and siblings are trash, but something should have been done about keeping these people in check. I blame the palace more than anything for this mess. There were multiple ways they could have handled this so that it didn’t explode the way it has. Being royal is a business and they have an image to sell/uphold. This has become a spectacle and not a good one. They look like idiots for getting out played by these people.

      • Lady D says:

        She has a sister trying to destroy her life, a best friend forever that turned traitor on her,(that must have really hurt) a greedy, bitter older brother that saw an opportunity to destroy his half sister,and a sister who thinks she’s the better one, and saw dollars signs and thought she deserved them for having to put up with Meghan in the first place. Their mission is to destroy Meghan because they believe she doesn’t deserve what should have been their’s first, and no matter the cost, they expect to win. Some game. Personally, I hope they drown in tears of bitter rage while watching the wedding. On the plus side, they can say they are related to royalty even though they will never meet any of them.

    • Cas says:

      “If Meghan’s dad was rich and very influential, Harry would have traveled to see him.” Wow that is so true

      • Masamf says:

        Naaaaah, don’t believe none of that. Even if he was rich and influential but would not agree to meet Harry, he still wouldn’t have met him. We are living in the 21st century where many people care zilch about the BRF. Even if Meghan was Bill Gates’ daughter but BG wasn’t interested in meeting the fiancé at that point, fiancé would still have proposed before he met BG, pretty simple.

    • Tan says:

      In my culture parental approval is a big deal. Even if it is not really necessary in this day, it is expected that you would atleast seek their opinion on your partner.
      My partner is from another culture where parental opinion is not that important either. However he still tries to maintain a relationship with my parents and so do I with his.

      Meghan might not be close enough to her father to warrant any kind of relationship, and maybe she is estranged but then it was not needed to invite him. A simple statement would have sufficed. If , for whatever reason she had to invite her fathersince she is not really marrying a private citizen in a private ceremony, maybe it would not have harmed her to meet her father once after engagement or take Harry to meet him. All these situations could have been mitigated in an easier way.

      They had time to take vacations after vacations but not 3 days to go and meet her father??

      This looks soo shady. Meghan had all the time to meet all the relatives of Harrys side but he not hers ( other than her mother who seems to be a very amenable person)

      It seems the prince did not really respect his bride enough to make an effort..

      And Meghan was okay with it?

      And if she is estranged, then why bother with the half assed attempt?

      Like someone here said, if her father was rich and influential, estrangement or not, things would have been very different.

      • Lady D says:

        Maybe, just maybe, the recluse did not want to meet Harry. Whether Meghan was okay with it or not, ultimately if he said no that would be it. Or do you suggest Harry force himself on the man anyway because he is marrying his daughter?

      • SilverUnicorn says:

        @Tan
        In my culture too.

        But I told the crappy part of my family ‘sod you all’ (including my abusive father who has never met my husband in all these years) and I never pandered to the toxic relatives, I preferred to cut ties instead of having my nerves wrecked until I die.

        Surely, things would have been quite difficult to contain if I had married a member of the BRF. Pretty sure my father would have provided all the possible, disgusting details about his daughter to the tabloids.

    • Helen Smith says:

      Nell, I agree with you. Some parents are like toddlers in big bodies and you need to massage the relationship to avoid a big mess which Meghan doesn’t seem willing to do. I say that since she didn’t even bother to introduce Harry to Thomas Sr.

      As for the rest of the family I keep saying “keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” Meghan blew any chance to influence their behavior by shutting them out.

      I have one of those families too. It takes social skill to deal with them. I have a feeling Meghan threw up her hands one day and walked away. You can do that but you pay a price for that decision.

      I noticed you’re receiving a lot of push back. I do too. Mostly, from people with families where adults can behave like adults for a wedding day. Those of us who aren’t so lucky need to employ social skills to keep a small problem a small problem.

  12. Maria F. says:

    By now ‘she is estranged from her father’s side of the family’ would have looked much better on a press release than this mess.

    • Janet R says:

      Oh yeah!

    • Christin says:

      Hindsight certainly is 20/20. Harry dropped a hint, but it could be construed in different ways. Estranged would have been more specific.

      However, these relatives seem so greedy and shameless that it might not have deterred them. It’s hard to shame the shameless.

      • Jenns says:

        It’s so funny how bent out of shape everyone got when Harry said at Christmas she got the family she had never had. People were either insulted or saying he didn’t mean it this way or that way. Maybe he meant it just like that. Maybe it was his way of telling her his family has her back.

  13. Zapp Brannigan says:

    Might be a good time for the palace to announce who is walking her down the aisle and shut all his nonsense down, he is a very selfish man and I think his behaviour is not new to Meghan. She might have fallen into the classic trap of trying to please an impossible person and hoping that this time he would follow through on a promise. An example of hope over experience.

    • CommentingBunny says:

      Oh that’s a trap I know well. I feel for Meghan.

      • Zapp Brannigan says:

        Yep, the always moving goal with increasing numbers of stumbling blocks placed in front of it.

        I know someone who is messy like this, her son was getting married and wanted a small family dinner. Bride, groom parents and siblings was what both bride and groom wanted, all planned, booked and paid for. It was not good enough for his mother so she organised a “surprise” wedding for them complete with band, food and two hundred of Her chosen guests. World War 3 ensued. It damaged many relationships including with many of his friends who could not understand why they were not invited to his “wedding”. It was awful.

      • Carrie1 says:

        Same. I hope KP says nothing more. Announcing the kids in the wedding party today was great to get things back in focus. Just have the wedding and no more talk or press except official stuff (ie. the Queen statements etc)

    • Keepitreal says:

      Yes, this!

    • ariel says:

      I think your take on this matter is dead on.
      And, as someone who has tried to fix a broken jackass or two, it pulled at my soul when I read it- “trying to please an impossible person and hoping that this time he would follow through on a promise.”
      Shit. Many of us have and work to recover from this particular sickness.

      I hope Meghan has an amazing wedding day.

  14. Becks1 says:

    I feel so sorry for her. A few months ago, when the gossip was that he wasn’t going to come – had her mother walked her down the aisle it would have been unusual for the BRF but a non-story in many ways. Now, its going to be a huge story (whether its Charles or her mother or whoever that does it.)

    I wonder if she told KP there was a chance he would pull something like this, and they were behind that gossip about him not attending, and then things changed so KP changed their story?

    • Jenns says:

      I think if they thought for a minute he would be doing anyof this, they would have had a plan in place. They had a plan in case Kate ran from her wedding! With all the other Markle antics, they would have set up something.

  15. tmbg says:

    I think she should walk herself down the aisle. This is her second time and heck, she doesn’t need anyone to give her away. I swear, these stodgy old traditions just need to go already. It’s great if you have a close family, but if you don’t, you’re put into an awkward position. Just leave the jealous, greedy trailer trash in the dust, Meghan. You only need your mom there.

    • LV487 says:

      Yeah, but that aisle looks like the length of a football field. I don’t look at is as her mom giving her away, just there, supporting her.

    • Sara says:

      OR have her own mother walk her down the aisle.

  16. perplexed says:

    Why was he unable to walk her down the aisle the first time?

    They’ll likely have a beautiful wedding and after Saturday maybe everybody will forget about what the dad is doing….I think.

    • Christin says:

      That tabloid site seems to be on his speed dial, so he’ll probably be calling in during the wedding. Maybe from a “hospital bed” with a “doctor” who looks a lot like the fabric shop employee who was doing his measurements the other day.

  17. manta says:

    Of course he’s only concerned with the “history aspect of all this. Man is lucid enough to realize that the only reason he was invited (that is if he really was) is for decorum and tradition.
    He wasn’t included for special day numero uno when she married a nobody.
    And that didn’t stop her from having a great day. It won’t be different this time.
    He just should have been consistent and honest from day one: Honey, you managed perfectly well without me the first time, sure you ‘ll do it again.
    It would have given her plenty of time to make other arrangements, instead of dealing with his mess.

    • jwoolman says:

      I’ve been interviewed by reporters before, and they get things wrong and omit key interchanges. The reporter undoubtedly phrased the question in terms of it being an historical event, and so he could have been simply responding to that leading question. People do that all the time, the reporter puts words and ideas in their heads. He might have talked more personally about his daughter, but that was not reported. Not the spin they wanted.

      Based on my experiences with media, I wouldn’t scrutinize what TMZ reported too closely. It may be incomplete or even misquoted.

      Also consider the possibility that the guy is now taking meds that make him a tad chattier than usual…. If he recently had a heart attack and is facing surgery, he may also be very anxious and that can make some folks very talkative, especially with someone who has taken pains to be cast as a sympathetic ear. I remember a friend the night before his surgery to replace a plastic heart valve (congenital heart problems), he was bouncing off the walls and talking non-stop. I think any sedative he was given had the opposite effect!

      We also don’t know if this guy has also been communicating with his daughter or his ex.

    • Imqrious2 says:

      How do you know, Manta, that he wasn’t asked to her first wedding, and flaked on that, too. Or what crap he pulled before that one? We DONT know, we’re all speculating, and shouldn’t be putting forth THEORIES, for that is all they are, as Gospel.

      IMO, from what I’ve read about him recently, it seems that in some small ways, he was there for his daughter when she was younger, but as age, time gained on him, that has dropped off quite a bit. Agaim, not *fact*, just my theory on he behavior. He seems to have become more reclusive, and perhaps doesn’t want to make a fool of himself in Meg’s new world/life, so he self-sabotaged. again, just MY theory. We’ll obviously never know the truth.

      Still, I hope M & H can put this aside for the day and have a spectacular, special day on Saturday. I can’t wait to see her in her dress 😊

      • manta says:

        I don’t know anymore than you do. Just browsing through pictures of wedding number one, she clearly had the time of her life (as she should ), without daddy being here.
        So, clearly, the narrative of “daddy’s special little girl is so heartbroken that the father she still adores won’t be there for the most important day of her life” is weird to me.
        That her ego is hurt, to be slapped that publicly, I can buy. But her heart is probably fine.

  18. sus says:

    I have been under the impression Meghan and her dad had an okay/good relationship. Clearly that’s not the case. Now I can’t figure out why I got that impression. What has the (in)official word been?

    • Jan says:

      That they were “periodically” estranged. I would guess that was every time he didn’t show up to something important or in some other way was his drama filled a$$hole self.

  19. Petty Riperton says:

    This whole fiasco has cheapened the wedding it’s an embarrassment at this point. Such a circus, this makes Meghan look tacky and trashy by association.

    • Natalie S. says:

      I don’t think so. It’s impressive what she made of herself actually considering these were some of her role models during her formative years.

      She should hold her head up high and show people just how much dignity she has. It’s not her fault her family is terrible and a lot of people from dysfunctional families can relate to what she’s dealing with.

    • Mia4s says:

      I beg to differ. I don’t get why people think this has “ruined” things. That’s just silly. If she walks with her mother there will be praise for being “progressive” and “modern”…not words often associated with the royals! She’ll be praised as resilient.

      And if Prince Charles steps in? Please. The public will melt into an adoring puddle. You know it’s true.

      In other words? They’ll be more than fine.

    • minx says:

      How does she look trashy and tacky? You can’t pick your father, believe me I know.

    • perplexed says:

      I’m amazed she turned out so well and carved out a unique life for herself, with so many family members trying to bring her down.

    • jwoolman says:

      The circus is all due to the media. They’ve been spinning all this for quite a while. So an old guy with health problems fluctuates on whether or not he can travel to his daughter’s wedding thousands of miles away across a continent and an ocean. Not the big deal that it is being made out to be. Same with the pictures of himself that were sold. I doubt they bothered his daughter.

    • Jenns says:

      I think this makes her look better. Not to racist, classist people who are always looking for a way to put her down. To hold her head high, do some work, and not say one word, while, all around her, her family is lighting fires, I think that takes some backbone.

    • Kitty says:

      The only people who look trashy in this situation are Megan’s douchey dad and half sibs, and the media who keep buying their stories…and the people who are judging Megan on how crappy her family is

  20. perplexed says:

    Can you check yourself into a hospital when you have a heart attack? I thought you usually call 911 because it’s happening so fast or go to emergency and then the doctors decided what to do.

    • Jenns says:

      I drove my dad to the hospital, and my mom also did at a later date. It depends on the symptoms. The second time, he needed to stay for a quadruple bi-pass, so he was checked in/admitted. It was very serious, but no ambulance to get there.

      Not saying this is Markle at all, but just another viewpoint 🙂

      • perplexed says:

        This scenario/viewpoint makes sense to me. I just figured the doctors make the final call as to whether you will be admitted because of the number of beds available — I never thought of a heart attack as something where you admit yourself to the hospital.

        Markle said he admitted himself, which sounds strange to me.

    • Chaine says:

      Best to call 911. We had a neighbor who started having a heart attack, tried to drive himself, ended up running off the road and dying due to injuries from the car accident.

  21. KBB says:

    I read a really interesting article last night theorizing that this was all allowed basically to check Meghan and put her back in her place.
    Link is here if anyone is interested:
    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/who-hurt-meghan-markles-dad-12533949.amp
    You really get the sense that the people who marry into the family are surrounded by enemies.

    • Redgrl says:

      @kbb – interesting article… I always thought he never really wanted to walk her down the aisle – not because of her but because of the hoopla and he’s pretty much a recluse. I don’t think he’s calculating enough to have set this up as a passive/aggressive way out – but I doubt he ever wanted to actually go. He should have politely declined- worked with KP to explain to the media – travel too much for him but he loves his daughter and is cheering her on or some such thing. The photos themselves are foolish and amateur – but considering the Middleton media blitzes the press is hypocritical to only call him out. The ensuing TMZ shenanigans are the really unforgivable thing imho. He & his side of the family are playing into the hands of the anti-Meghan brigade- whether it’s the racists or the snobs – and it’s such a shame.

      • KBB says:

        I never understood why the PR flacks released that statement knowing that her dad was in on it, or why they hadn’t tried to wrangled him in with the staged photos. This article is saying maybe the royal courtiers wanted to see Meghan knocked down a peg and embarrassed by her family.

        Imagine the people there to protect your image having their own agenda that occasionally conflicts with your best interests. The people there to protect her will also be the ones hanging her out dry. That is rough. Diana had to deal with the same thing.

      • Redgrl says:

        @kbb – yes, I read & understood that part of the article before I posted and it’s upsetting also.

    • perplexed says:

      Why would they need to check Meghan though? I doubt she’d want to embarrass herself.

      I don’t really think the photographs are a problem any longer — it’s the fact that he keeps calling TMZ! How would anybody, whether it’s Meghan, Prince Harry, or William, or poor Jason know he’d do that??? Also, since the relatives are American, I think it’s harder to control them. If they were British, you could probably whip out the love of country and duty or some guilt-trip like that, or maybe stick Scotland Yard on these people to get a message across. I don’t know what you can do with non-UK relatives.

      • KBB says:

        Maybe I should have included quotes so people understood what part of the article I was talking about. This is the part I meant about Meghan being “checked”-

        “And the faceless courtiers will likewise be quietly satisfied. The uppity new bride with a different way of doing things has been put back in her box, again. Non-aristocrats have been exposed as moneygrabbing peasants, again. And the beautiful, worldly, opinionated new bride will be on the back foot rather than striding confidently into her new, and very complicated, life.”

      • feral child says:

        YES!!!!

        People forget how terrible the firm can be to people it’s supposed to care about.

        I hope Meghan’s mom swoops in and rescues her daughter from this.

      • Masamf says:

        This is all speculation and Im gonna defend the courtiers, ONLY this time. They had to be angels from heaven to know that Mr. Markle would fall prey to paparazzi manipulation, courtiers had to be prophets that received some heavenly messages to know that Mr. Markle would respond to said manipulation and behave like the way he did, none of which they are. All of this is just a coincidence but as conspiracy theories always go, there has to be a conspiracy going on in everything, ALWAYS!!

      • KBB says:

        @masa I don’t think anyone expected them to predict what her dad was going to do, it’s just surprising that they didn’t try and shut it down after the first staged photo op. I think it’s curious that no one told him to cut the shit after he was photographed reading a picture book about England or being measured outdoors “for his tux.” It’s possible Meghan asked him to stop and he just didn’t listen.

        But KP doubling down and basically accusing the tabloids of hounding him and stressing him out is likely what prompted the DM to expose him. It’s not like they didn’t know the photos were staged all along.

      • perplexed says:

        ““And the faceless courtiers will likewise be quietly satisfied. The uppity new bride with a different way of doing things has been put back in her box, again. Non-aristocrats have been exposed as money-grabbing peasants, again. And the beautiful, worldly, opinionated new bride will be on the back foot rather than striding confidently into her new, and very complicated, life.”

        I just don’t think she’s been involved with the family long enough to show that she has a different way of doing things. She hasn’t even married in yet. So far, she’s adapted to their rules, etiquette, and codes of behaviour. There’s nothing about her behaviour so far that seems to deviate from how a royal bride is expected to act. Unless Prince William really hates the fact she sometimes doesn’t wear pantyhose or that you can find Suits on Netflix…

    • Chaine says:

      Interesting~ I had to snicker though at this quote about Wills: “will neither understand nor accept someone trading on their Royal connections.” Ummm this is the person whose brother-in-law improbably obtained $1million in funding for a personalized marshmallow company… nothing strange about that…

    • Rainbow says:

      I can believe this theory, if only because I used to follow royal news back in the day and many courtiers/royal advisers are more powerful than the monarch.

      Just look up IHA, Imperial Household Agency, of the Japanese Imperial family. They are notorious for bullying the current Crown Princess for not giving birth to a boy that she had a nervous breakdown. They even suggested publicly that the Crown Prince take a concubine who could give birth to the future Emperor. They are also not shy of admonishing the Crown Prince in the media to get him in line. The Crown Princess of Japan was a diplomat, well educated, independent, etc but royal families are archaic and out of touch. Anyone who has different ideas are made to fit in and told to be quiet.

      The only royal house that comes close to being the most modern is the Orange House of the Netherlands.

  22. LittleWing says:

    I feel awful for Meghan and can appreciate how painful it must be not to be able to cut ties with this loser. I highly doubt that putting him on some kind of salary and having him sign an NDA would have prevented any of this – to a grifter that might just up the ante and encourage him to demand even more.

  23. Margo S. says:

    My father is a very selfish narcissistic ex alchoholic all around odd guy. He was barely a part of my wedding and it was for the best. I’ve grown up a lot and still talk to him maybe once a month on the phone. I have three kids and he’s seen them maybe five times in total. I’m ok with that. He’s not someone who will ever be a major part of our lives and that’s fine.

    I think Megan is kind of in the same boat with her father. The guy is a mess and selfish and at this point in his life probably won’t ever change. She’ll be fine. Her and Harry are so in love and honestly it’s about them, not there crazy messed up extended family.

    • Kitty says:

      i can sympathize with you and Megan. My dad is also an alcoholic, narcissist, he comes across as really nice until you have to be around him for more then a day. He barely has anything to do with me but will still complain to everyone that I don’t call on his birthday and I never visit. When my partner built me a house after years of living in a basement appartment, my dad never once said congrats or anything, he just said “guess I won’t see my granddaughter anymore.” We moved out of the city to a small town to raise our daughter, best decision ever. I’m only a short drive from mine and my fathers hometown where his parents still live, but nope, I’m the bad guy for moving. He only came to see us like twice a year when we lived closer anyway. It sucks to have a shitty dad but what can you do…definitely can’t blame the daughter for her dads crappy behaviour

  24. xdanix says:

    This heart surgery things seems… awfully conveniently timed, to me. The heart attack is supposed to have happened over a week ago. And yet it was not going to stop him going to the wedding. Any problems he might have needed surgery for were obviously going to be dealt with after it. Those tests he had done yesterday? They weren’t even going to be *happening* this week. He was supposed to be on his way to the UK, or maybe even already there. Then the expose happened. And now, the surgery is SO IMPERATIVE it has to happen today, thus neatly preventing him from being able to fly?

    I’m sorry. Maybe I’m being too cynical. He’s an old man who isn’t in the healthiest state, so I can well believe he has some health issues, but something about this surgery and the timing of it just doesn’t add up.

    • RBC says:

      The timing does seem too convenient. If Meghan doesn’t rush to her father’s side because he is so ill and instead goes through with the wedding, she can be labeled a unfeeling cold bitch by her family. No family is perfect but the Markle family certainly seems to be going out of their way to destroy Meghan’s wedding day.

      • Happy cat angry cat says:

        This is the reaction of some, and why I can’t shake the feeling that Sam helped set this up to either get the wedding cancelled, or prove that Meghan is heartless and doesn’t care about her Dad. Her Dad is an adult, and can make his own decisions, but her awful and jealous half-sister does seem to be able to manipulate him to some extent.

        Also, why is he blaming Tom Jr and not Sam for his heart attack?

      • Keepitreal says:

        I was thinking about this yesterday; she is in a “no win” situation here. Family is the devil.

      • Lady D says:

        TmZ is reporting successful surgery, they even have a quote from Thomas, “3:05 PM PT — Thomas says, “I’m ok. It will take a long time to heal. Staying in the hospital a few more days. Not allowed to get excited.”

    • Squirrelgirl says:

      If he had a heart attack a week ago and he needs heart surgery he would have a stint or something in place for him that would appear invasive and obvious. The fact that he is checking himself into a hospital and needs open heart surgery is almost laughable at this point.

  25. RBC says:

    I am waiting for the other shoe to drop. Those trashy siblings of Meghan’s are probably planning something to embarrass her on Saturday.
    They have no shame

  26. perplexed says:

    Does he get paid by TMZ?

    • Jan says:

      Absolutely!

    • Evie says:

      Apparently TMZ is NOT paying Thomas Markle, Sr. Harvey Levin was quoted as saying he offered him $100,000 a few days ago for an interview and Markle declined.

      BTW, one of the British tabloids “claims” that Doria is going to do that sit down interview with Oprah and get her own show on the O network and will be paid $400,000. Notice that I said the tabloids, “claimed.” I have no clue whether it’s true or fake news. Time will tell.

      • Masamf says:

        ok so that explains things. And it also explains why there’s been s no more communication between none of them and mr. Markle since yesterday.

      • Olenna says:

        The tabs want their readers to rage against Doria as much they rage against Meghan, so they’re spinning the Oprah story to make it look like she’s cashing in on her daughter. Also, the trolls are have been perpetuating the Oprah interview rumor on here and elsewhere for a few weeks.

      • Peg says:

        Oprah do not pay for interviews.
        She did not buy the cars or gifts, that she handed out on her show, they came from companies, who in turn benefitted from the publicty on the Oprah Show.

  27. Jan says:

    The thought that he doesn’t “know” how the press works is ridiculous. He worked in Hollywood for many years. He’s doing this for the money and the drama like his two other trailer-trash kids. This is not on KP, her, Harry or anybody else. This guy has gone rogue for the money and attention. It’s obvious that he’s done it to her before and that’s why they have been estranged in the past. She’s probably been trying to get his approval all her life.

    • Other Renee says:

      This isn’t normal Hollywood gossip. This is an extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime situation that involves two cultures and the most well-known ROYAL family in the world. Being a lighting designer would in no way prepare this man for this kind of situation. Or scrutiny.

    • Christin says:

      I didn’t realize the extent of his TV career. He worked on sets for years and even won two Emmys for his work on a soap opera.

      Either he took General Hospital’s soap opera storylines too seriously, or has suddenly discovered a desire to be (in)famous. Or maybe both.

  28. Aang says:

    He may have a mental illness that is causing this behavior. It may make him susceptible to manipulation by the awful sister. That’s sad for both MM and her dad. We really have no idea.

  29. Joy says:

    Now we know why she has zero to do with that side of the family.

  30. DP says:

    Anne he was never invited in the first place? (I can see why! )
    Maybe this was all lies for attention and to save face?!

  31. CommentingBunny says:

    I’ve been the recipient of this kind of me-me-me “love.” He sounds like a narcissist who can’t stand that it’s not about him and that nobody is pretending it is about him.

    I remember with my ex, I had to find a way to make him the star of everything to keep the peace. Like when we went to our son’s school concert and he made a big shoe our of how the kids’ off-key singing hurt his oh-so-musical ears. The rest of the night was all about him and his musicality and his sensitivity and blah blah blah at least no one got screamed at that night.

    Aaaaanyway. Megan’s dad reminds me of my ex. He needs everything to be about himself & found someone (TMZ) to play along And pretend that the royal wedding is the Thomas Markle show.

  32. aquarius64 says:

    I think TMZ is setting up the Markle Monsters in Law. TMZ knows Tom Sr is not in the hospital, otherwise it would have published his hospital records by now or get hospital staff to talk. It’s waiting for the right time to release this headline: Meghan’s dad betrays her again!!!

  33. Liberty says:

    Such vile, disgusting people. I feel for Meghan; I have a friend who’s dealt with similar upsetting, stabby shenanigans for years and like Meghan, had only her mother and two brothers as an example of support and normal family and healthy parenting against a storm of absurd family. As an only child, MM missed that support and even her old bestie turned on her for cash.

    I was just thinking — every day, I see more and more clearly what Harry may have meant by saying his was the family she never had. Cue everyone about the disfunctional RF — yah sure, but, you know what I mean. Even the loopy aristocratic side of my family looks like an ideal family unit skills guild compared to this.

    • Digital Unicorn says:

      The RF is not perfect but they will embrace and protect her after Saturday and I think Chuck walking her down the aisle will be a good way of the RF showing that she has a new family now – one that will be there for her. Once the wedding is over the Markles will be shut down one way or another – the press will turn on them. As others upthread have already said, TMZ are going to turn on Daddy Markles – am betting a ‘he lied about heart attack’ story will drop on Saturday.

  34. KeWest says:

    Well Harry can’t be Markled like Wiliiam was Middletoned.

  35. Magdalin says:

    I call GIRL SQUAD. I hope that Ralph & Russo is hard at work making some pink bridesmaid dresses and she doesn’t choose one, but ALL of her closest friends to ride with her the rest of the way to the church after her mom is dropped off.

    Then, she, flanked by her girls who love and support her, walks down the aisle herself.

    It’s all so sad. Just feeds into the naysayers. But what I really want to know is, why won’t the British press embargo any further interviews and coverage of her family, at least until the wedding? Just cut those fools off and allow a peaceful remainder of the week. Basically, who cares who will walk her down the aisle? Someone will, or she will go herself. Let’s focus on the positive again. I sure hope Meghan and Harry are trying to.

    • Elisa says:

      Why should the British press embargo her family? I’m sure they are over the moon about Mr. Pandora’s Box Markle and the rest of the lovely fam and they will milk this as long as they can.
      For the British press this is heaven’s sent, considering that the majority of British people is not interested in the wedding and want the RF – and not the tax payers – to cover all the costs (esp. for security) etc. And like LAK pointed out yesterday, the British press are also taking revenge for Harry’s attitude towards the press.
      https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-royals-wedding-poll/two-thirds-of-brits-not-interested-in-royal-wedding

  36. NorthernLala says:

    Her mother walking her down the aisle- now that’ll be awesome.
    Mr. TMZ Drama Queen needs to slink back into obscurity.

  37. Mary says:

    It is kind of odd that he has never met her fiancé in a span of two years and then he is going to meet him right before her wedding?
    There is more here then is being leaked or disclosed and honestly it is their business.
    I am sure I am going to be ripped apart for making this point, but perhaps if they all knew that her family was going to cause a nightmarish scene, maybe a more intimate, private wedding would have been a good idea. They could have released some photos to the public or the press organizations they like and enjoyed themselves.

    • Lady D says:

      Let other people’s actions dictate your movements? Especially at your wedding? Imagine getting married under their conditions, not yours. This is family you do not need and they do not get to decide what you do. Hold your head high, you are not your family.

  38. SM says:

    Heart surgery? Is he on a list of getting one because this is rediculous. And how about not being by the phone when his daughter he embarrased in front of the entire world called? Because clearly he keeps the phone close for regular communication with TMZ. I feel sorry for her – her dad is a shit person and she is about to get Prince Charles as her father in law…

  39. Jess says:

    He is a horrible father.

  40. Ninks says:

    FleetStreetFox has a really good twitter thread analysing the whole fiasco here https://twitter.com/fleetstreetfox/status/996331218580004869 and this is an interesting take from the Daily mirror https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/who-hurt-meghan-markles-dad-12533949

    • KBB says:

      I posted the same link upthread and I am fully buying in to this take! I guess I’m a conspiracy theorist lol but none of KP’s response made sense to me until I read this theory.

      Also, the twitter thread was written by the same person who wrote the article on the Mirror.

  41. Minxy says:

    I was of the mind that Thomas Markle backed out because of anxiety. He lives alone in Mexico, apparently has health issues and isn’t in the greatest physical condition and is understandably overwhelmed by all the sudden attention. I know I’d be freaked out if I had to meet the friggin’ queen! Now that he’s become Michael Lohan 2.0 and has TMZ on speed dial, I’ve changed my mind. I think he and his creepy kids from his first marriage are toxic messes. I keep seeing comments elsewhere about how awful Meghan is for not seeing the Markles. Hogwash. Anyone who has a family like hers can fully understand why she cut them out of her life. They’re doing everything in their power to embarrass her (remember the half brother’s hateful letter to Harry to call off the wedding? Now he’s saying he didn’t mean it and was just hurt because he and his family weren’t invited!) and make her and Harry’s wedding day about them. Just imagine the things they’ve done that we don’t know about.

    I also don’t believe the theory that Meghan really didn’t invite Thomas or that we’re not getting the full story (ie somehow this has to be Meghan’s fault!). This kind of nonsensical behavior is typical with narcissists. I think we all know that if Meg tried anything like that, that tiresome Samantha with her safety scissors cut bangs would be parked outside of Buckingham Palace crying about how “Princess Pushy” is ashamed of her dad because he’s old or sick. As an aside, I find it absolutely vile that the half siblings trotted their busted asses over the England to do commentary during the wedding. The media needs to stop giving them money and attention. How anyone can look at their behavior and still think Meghan had to have done something underhanded is beyond me. They’re the problem!

    • Jenns says:

      I just had to laugh at “safety scissor bangs”!! I’ve done my own bang cuts a couple times, and that exactly describes what happens to them! Hahahaha!

      And I agree with your other statements, too.

    • Tourmaline says:

      Yep agree with every word.

  42. Eliza says:

    Someone needs to stop me from reading DM comments. They’re just so crazy it’s amazing.

    Lots of likes for the theory he was never invited. He staged the photos to guilt them into inviting him and it backfired?? Someone explain that theory to me. Hahaha.

    • milky says:

      I think that theory came from Tumblr. They were talking about what Meghan did last year at Pippa’s wedding. The whole “will she, won’t she attend”. staging those pics one day before Pips wedding to grab attention, everyone was talking about Meghan instead of Pippa, etc. Tumbrls thought Meghan was trying to wrangle an invite to her wedding by releasing those PR stories. They are an amusing lot and it’s quite creepy how their gossip ends up on the DM, then goes back to Tumblr, then goes back to the DM/Royal Forums again. It’s like a back and forth of random people saying “hey, look at what this person wrote on the DM, what we thought must be true”. Then the whole cycle starts again.

  43. abby says:

    As horrible as this is for Meghan I want to see the upside here. Thomas Sr. has shown himself to the world. Hopefully the BRF (and I include Meg in that) will take this as lesson learned.

    I won’t try to blame anyone because we don’t know what offers were made or not made regarding security or assistance prior to this debacle. If Thomas is as obstinate as some of my relatives you can makes endless offers but they still refuse because they think they can handle it until they suddenly cannot and need to be rescued.

    What we do know is that Thomas is running to TMZ rather than informing/updating Meg and Harry of the situation and letting KP handle the press releases.
    No, the updates are coming from TMZ who is being contacted directly by Thomas.
    That speaks volumes.

    Meg, have a cry then cut your losses, hold your head high and move on.
    Your dad did you a favour otherwise he could be dogging you and Harry for your entire royal life by leaking personal information to Samantha and TMZ.

  44. Other Renee says:

    Expecting a broke recluse to get on a plane a couple of days before the wedding of the year in front of the entire world was incredibly naive regardless of… well, anything. Yes he’s ultimately responsible for his own behavior but these are not normal circumstances. He is way out of his depth. KP should have taken control months ago to help guide him through these extraordinary circumstances and maybe things would not have gotten so far out of hand.

    • Maria says:

      Exactly!

    • perplexed says:

      How much guidance does a person need??? We know not to talk to TMZ — he should too1

    • Olenna says:

      I don’t believe Tom Markle is broke. He expatriated himself to Mexico for reasons we can only guess, and seems to have had tenuous relationships with his adult children even before he moved there. But, I have no doubt MM and KP made the same first class arrangements for his travel to England that they made for Doria. But, he pulls this last-minute shit with the photos and TMZ calls not because of his financial situation, but for his own personal, twisted reasons (he has not said one word about not having $$ to travel). Could Meghan have guessed he would drop the ball this late in the game after he committed? Who knows, but please let’s not make it sound like MM did nothing to facilitate his travel to her wedding b/c no one will ever know the exact arrangements now.

      • Karen says:

        He also still has an apartment in Los Angeles that he rents. May need to show residency for social security. I am sure he also has a pension.

      • Masamf says:

        + this guy worked steadily in sho biz for 40 years, so yes he has the money. His filing bankruptcy is just like any other person that don’t want pay their credit card debts so they file for bankruptcy. Donald Trump filed for bankruptcy about 7 times, but all that time, he has his real estate gig going strong. Fifty cent filed for bankruptcy but can anyone safely say Fitty is broke?
        And I don’t know where this Meghan didn’t have any plans for him is coming from, she has stated on numerous occasions that she and her father have a close enough relationship. TM Sr.’s friends went on record saying him and his daughter are close and he is very fond and proud of his actress daughter and talks about her all the time, they are okay. KP knew that the pas rented a house and moved in next door to him in Mexico and have been hounding this guy for moths, but KP chose to do nothing to advise this guy or to offer some guidance or hire a rep to look out for his interests, they dropped a ball on this big time.

  45. Cerys says:

    This is becoming more of a soap opera every day. If Thomas Markle is a genuinely reclusive and anxious person then KP should have been more supportive and brought him into the fold much earlier. However, as the week has progressed this image of him is less and less likely. To me though, he still seems like a very confused individual and as dysfunctional as his other offspring. Meghan and her mother have my sympathies. Planning a wedding, especially one as high-profile as this, is stressful enough without added drama.

    • HK9 says:

      Genuinely reclusive people don’t have TMZ on speed dial. What we have here is a clumsy famewhore. As a person who also had an awful father, they make sure they ruin every milestone event for you because they just can’t help themselves. My dad would agree to things happily, and then pull stunts like this. My father is the reason that a don’t judge anyone by their family (except for the Kardashians). I sympathize with her and hope she can put this aside and have an awesome wedding.

  46. CoffeeWench says:

    This entire family…. SMDH.

    I’m still very surprised that the Queen is approving of this marriage for a million different reasons.

  47. Maria says:

    What would be really nice right now would be for the half siblings to fly to LA where Thomas Sr. Is having his surgery pick him up at the hospital, and drive him back to Mexico, and stay with him while he recuperates. They can watch the wedding together. That would be the decent thing to do. As it is now, they’re in the UK, compliments of Good Morning Britain, and Meghan, in addition to all the stress she has had, still has to worry about her father’s health.

    • Princessk says:

      Yes, if the hateful half siblings cared about their father they would not be so busy giving as many interviews as possible to try to spoil her big day. Wicked people! But worse of all is the media led by the Daily Mail…..totally disgusting! It now seems as though Harry and Meghan are now being blamed for this.

  48. Keepitreal says:

    The bigger the profile of the bash…the bigger the mess. Meghan may have been blindsided….but I would not leave anything to chance. They could have had a smaller (still largish) wedding, with half of the hoopla…since they both wanted privacy respected to begin with. There is no way the press is going to be respectful of anyone’s privacy here as they see this as a big public event….Thomas Markle just gave them more ammunition to those who did not want this to begin with. What is worse will be the sniggering; it is an embarrassment, BP, KP and the PR people could have handled this much better and should not have left MM to deal with this. A statement is not good enough.

  49. TyrantDestroyed says:

    He gives me the vibes as someone who used to be relevant once and now that he could be again he is enjoying every moment of it. He is everything but naive

  50. Jenns says:

    At first, I really wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. I mean, he hadn’t said or done anything all this time, and then a week before the wedding, sets up some pap shots. But LAK pointed out that the photos were staged/copywrit in February, meaning he had pulled this stunt a while ago. Which made me wonder, had he done anything prior to this? Was he the leaker on anything, even if it’s was giving Samantha info about Meghan? (and to stay in touch with her speaks volumes to me)

    I wish people would stop with the “he didn’t sell her out, he sold pics of himself, not her”. First, how do we know he didn’t. Second, selling info of himself is selling her out. He made her life more difficult with his selfish actions. You hate that the paps took bad pics of you? If they were really harassing him, he could have gone out and done these things legitimately without hiring a pap. He was concerned with his image not hers. He. Sold. Her. Out.

    And I’m sure Meghan would tell me to STFU and mind my own business and leave her father alone LOL I hope she has a wonderful wedding day and it isn’t marred by any regret or hindsight of her own, because this not on her.

    • Green Girl says:

      I agree that he sold her out, and who knows what other info he has been providing the paps in the last few months, too! Her dad has made the last few days before the royal wedding All About Him and has added so much drama to the event. It’s a really crummy thing to do, even if the happy couple is just doing a quick backyard event or will elope. As it’s a royal wedding, it just adds another layer of drama and anxiety to what’s already a stressful event.

  51. hey-ya says:

    …wedding planning nightmare…itll be over soon …then she can forget about her family again…personally I prefer the dads shenigans to anything about the Yorks….

  52. Mela says:

    Now the half sister did an interview with TMz that said Megan is “way out of her league” to ask her to stop talking. This half sister is a miserable bitter hag and gets off on the pain of others. I bet they go to Dr Phil next

    Thomas Markle and his other kids are creeps

  53. TaraT3 says:

    I truly don’t understand why the staged pictures were so bad. Tacky? Absolutely. But they were endearing in a way that made me go “oh, poor guy.” I never once felt embarrassed for Meghan about it. And now it has turned into the top talking point. I just.. think it could have been easily avoided?

  54. Citresse says:

    I’ve been away traveling, therefore hadn’t received all updates on MM’s father, however not surprised he won’t be at wedding. He’s hiding in MEX for whatever reasons. Is the heart attack story even real? I seriously doubt it.

    • Maria says:

      Welcome back! We’ve missed you.

    • Jayna says:

      He’s not hiding. The man probably is living on very limited income, so he, like other ex-pats, moved there for the cheap cost of living. Some down there have a nice lifestyle with the lower cost of living. He lives in cheap housing. He doesn’t live in some swanky home down there. They don’t even know if he rents or owns. He moved there to be able to stretch his money down there and not have the stress about finances. He can drink his beer, eat fast food, get great, cheap Mexican takeout, and veg in front of the TV in his old age. From what I read, he doesn’t even appear to socialize much with the other ex-pats.

    • Citresse says:

      Thanks Maria, it’s been nice being away from headline news; certainly good to be away from the doom and gloom….but I must say this story involving MM’s father has really cast quite a shadow over the wedding. I knew things were unusual when only Doria showed up in Toronto last September for Harry’s Invictus Games. Perhaps a criminal conviction is preventing travel for MM’s father? I really don’t know. But I do know every country is different with regard to certain convictions and admissibility.

      • Maria says:

        Never thought about a criminal conviction. I think we would have heard of by now. Illness, physical and/or mental seems more like it. Something is fishy, that’s for sure.

  55. Dissa says:

    Her dad sounds like a narcissistic tool.
    Cut them all out of her life – save for the mother.

  56. MellyMel says:

    Well now I see where Samantha gets her antics from…jeez!

  57. Steph O says:

    Every child of awful parent(s) feels you right now, megan.

  58. Madpoe says:

    my god it hasn’t even happened yet and I’m so tired of hearing of her and harry.

  59. Avery says:

    No wonder Doria didn’t stay married to him long. I can see why their marriage only lasted 5 years. He is a complete embarrassment.

    • Peg says:

      She left him when Meghan was two years old and divorce him when She was six yrs old.
      So Doria did not stick around long

  60. ladida says:

    I doubt Meghan is surprised, she obviously knows her father by now. He’s probably been a big burden on her for the last several years, due in large part to mental illness. I think this whole thing will be eclipsed by the wedding.

  61. my3cents says:

    I just feel sorry for her, aside all the stupidity, he’s really making this whole thing about him.

  62. Mallie says:

    This whole thing is a train wreck. I love how the American press calls this a fairy tale, because there is no such thing as a fairy tale relationship. I also believe that QEII is a spineless woman who stays out of the relationships of her family due to the history of love affairs and recent divorces in the BRF. She bent like a cheap piece of wire to the wishes of her older relatives when they were alive and especially her mother. Would this wedding be taking place if the Queen Mum were still living? Not a chance. I don’t think Harry got to know Meghan (sp? and I don’t care) or her family before before popping the question. It’s one thing to conduct a long-distance relationship across continents with the occasional vacation, but quite another to live together with someone full-time, breathing the same air and making daily compromises. The Bride’s family is pretty trashy and as they say, apples don’t fall far from the trees.

    • Masamf says:

      @Mallie, what you say or all the questions you ask should apply to Meghan, Harry’s family and their history makes Meghan’s family look like saints. The queen mom wouldn’t have allowed Harry to marry Meghan? And why is that, because Meghan is such low class compared to Harry? Charles, who is the PoW married Diana within a mere months, Andrew married Sarah within less than 2 years after they first met, the queen mother approved of Charles and Camilla carrying on an affair on Diana, so this is the queen mom with such a moral compass that wouldn’t allow Harry and Meghan marriage?

  63. Cher says:

    Mr. Markle was never walking Meghan down that isle. Meghan knew it and so did Kensington Palace. Some story was going to be presented to the public. The DM messed that all up with its story about the staged pictures and Mr. Markle went rogue. The additional story line was all made up to save face on all counts…
    Now let’s get to the main event, the wedding.

  64. rabbitgirl says:

    This is insane! This amount of stress is too much. I don’t know how she is holding up. I had a breakdown because my dress was ruined three days before the wedding. But at least my family was supportive and kind and there for me. I don’t know how I would handle a hostile foreign country + a crazy disloyal family + stalker strangers with cameras … It’s totally insane. I don’t know how she is holding up. Poor girl.

    • Princessk says:

      I would not go as far as saying a hostile foreign country. It is the right wing racist media that has encouraged this and I predict that some people are going to pay for this.

  65. tearose11 says:

    All I know is that I was not interested in this wedding just like I wasn’t when William got married BUT now I’m thinking I should watch it LOL

    As for the entire debacle…well, H+M could have sent a professional to help sort out her dad whom I’m pretty sure M knew was very unhealthy with mental problems. And by professional, I mean someone who knows how to deal with older people living with anxiety.

    The only reason I say that is having been born, and raised in a fishbowl like Harry has been, they should have had contingency plans in place. KP isn’t amatuer hour, or shouldn’t be, as recent events show. They could have easily avoided this whole fiasco that way. I’m not talking about giving M’s father money, but rather assign some private in-home care, so that they could have said from the get-go Mr. Merkle is unwell, and unable to travel, but Meghan is getting him the help he needs.

    It would have shut down any questions about who was going to walk her down the aisle, and prevented his muck-up with the pap & TMZ, and also made HER look like a good daughter, since it’s all about optics. Personally, I don’t think she should be paying for her dad, but due to the nature of the man she is about to marry, she & Harry should have paid for something like that from their private pockets, and none of us would have been the wiser really.

    Now her dad’s shenanigans are embarrassing her, even if most of us don’t hold her responsible for another person’s behaviour since it’s feeding the racist, and classist trolls that she is nothing, but a two-bit social climbing actress with a greedy, unreliable family. Which I think she is; she def. a social climber, and good for her for landing a prince, I wish I could, too.

    Had they made plans like that, the idiot half-siblings could have been ignored like the money & fame-hungry asses they are. And people would have been a lot more sympathetic to M.

    As for his heart condition: my dad drove himself to the hospital without even realizing he had suffered a heart attack, he was by himself and the only symptoms he had was vomiting. Plus her dad is in Mexico, I am not sure how reliable or fast an ambulance would get to someone, especially since he is supposed to be living in a less developed community. I don’t want think the heart attack is a lie, given how he looks and that fact he is older, he might have had one. Even if he needs a stent, they would advise him not to travel as you can easily bleed from where they insert the dye for an angiogram. Again I only know this because my dad had to go through the same, and they tell you not to do a lot for 24-48 hours after getting one. Stents are like day surgery, but it’s always good to take it easy for a few days while your body recovers especially if you are in your 70’s like M’s father is.

    At the moment, it’s pointless to close the barn door, KP should simply put out a statement as per H+M’s wishes “x” will be walking her down the aisle without giving any other excuses or alluding to any her family. There are no reasons why it can’t be her mom, however I think to signal that she is cutting ties with her idiot dad, it might be a good idea to pick Charles or someone close to Harry who comes off as a “father” figure. Or perhaps she has a cousin or uncle or a mentor, who isn’t a famewhore and is already invited.

    Just my 0.2 cents.

  66. Sara says:

    I’m surprised Harry hasn’t dumped Markle yet due to this embarrassing family of hers. I realize that it’s not her fault, but it does look very trashy for him.

    • ladida says:

      Well, that’s kinda the point of engagement and marriage…

    • tearose11 says:

      He can hardly dump her two days before the wedding LOL

      I don’t think this marriage will last, she is far too thirsty. Or if it does, it will be with a lot of cheating on both sides. I know, I know, I’m cynical.

    • YankLynn says:

      Sara I bet you were shocked that William didn’t divorce Kate when film and testimony came out about her trashy relatives — like his mother in law’s brother punching his wife in the face while standing in the street. Or that his sister in law’s husband and family are in the news every day now over pedophilia charges.

      Or maybe you forgot all about all the trashy royal family stories due to the SHOCKING pictures of Meghan’s father reading a picture book about Britain. Yikes, the horror …

    • Vanessa says:

      First of all no one family is perfect not even the Royals everyone has dysfunctional in the family and at some point Megan half siblings behavior or not a reflection on her or her mother . its not Megan job to tell her older half siblings to behave themselves like adults obviously Megan’s parents did something right because she’s grown up to be a smart respectable human being . People who don’t like Megan are quick to blame her for the actions of her half siblings or do people blaming pippa and her husband for the actions of her father-in-law because you know Pippa is Related to Kate pippa nieces and nephews are future kings and queens . is that not a embarrassment for the royal family

    • Argonaut says:

      do you like it when people judge you for your trashy and embarrassing relatives Sara? or is your family perfect?

    • Princessk says:

      Huh?

  67. ParlerBleu says:

    I find it fascinating how many people are making excuses for her father. I find it even more fascinating how many people are putting the burden of blame on MEGAN. Or her trash-can of a sister.

    This feels like a case of blaming women for the actions of men. The racial component of this is ‘fascinating’ as well.

    • Tonya says:

      Thank you…I’m noticing the same thing.

    • Olenna says:

      I have to agree. If Doria had screwed up just the least bit with the paps, many of the same commenters sympathizing with poor, dotard Tom Sr. would be crucifying her, and with no mercy for her age or inexperience with the tabs.

      • Tonya says:

        Notice how they deflect by bringing up a ‘meeting’ – where there is no evidence just someone’s ‘word’ (not verified)…yet we have video, photos, text messages & confessions from vile Markles…
        smh…

        White Privilege

  68. MerrymerrymonthofMay says:

    Boy this is some NEXT LEVEL emotional abuse…keeping her off balance by constantly changing his mind. My mom would pull shit like this. Makes you wonder how bad it was for her growing up?

  69. Claire says:

    God I feel for her. I went through a nightmare with my husbands family the day before our wedding (long story short: they didn’t come, including his uncle the supposed best man) and nobody other than my friends and family knew/gave two shits about my wedding – much less the entire world.

  70. Skippy says:

    Coming from a dysfunctional family myself, I feel bad for Meghan. I send very best wishes for her and Harry and wish them every happiness. She is lucky she will be far away from that mess.

    • pwal says:

      I feel the same way, although, at least she wasn’t afraid to take a chance and marry someone who seems to be exceptional. For many (like me), the fear of family baggage or rather, being confronted with the unfettered, unapologetic ratchetness of it is the reason why relationships don’t progress beyond a certain stage.

  71. Digital Unicorn says:

    I feel for Meghan and Harry – her family are ruining their big day. Her sister will NEVER shut up, she’s getting off on the attention and is clearly obsessed with ruining Meghan’s life. The only way she will disappear is if the press stop paying her attention – I suspect that once the wedding is over, BP or CH will step in behind the scenes and clean up the mess that KP allowed to happen. I wouldn’t be surprised if TQ has ordered that and is why we got the story about her (TQ) being ‘not amused’. Am sure there are ways to make the crazy sister zip it that don’t included money – am sure she has skeletons in her closet that she doesn’t want the world to know.

    As I said in a previous thread, the press worm will turn on the Markle’s.

  72. Citresse says:

    It’s unusual MM couldn’t or wouldn’t work with KP to get her father to UK at least two months ago to address his health concerns (if true) and then rest, recover and be ready for the wedding day. We’re obviously not getting the full story. But we may someday? Margaret was given away by Philip…It would be very lovely to see MM walked down the aisle by Charles to her left and mother Doria at her right.

  73. Mads says:

    Am I the only one finding it funny that a low class, uneducated man has this much power over a ROYAL wedding?

    Come on, if they wanted to clean this up they could with their resources. I don’t buy this scandal. He is no different than Pippa only that he is poor.

    I say sell her out and use the money to pay for your heart surgery.

  74. duchesschicana says:

    I doubt t he is is the one doing the calling all clickbait I would wait till day of the wedding to come to a conclusion

  75. Peg says:

    Samatha Grant may have a broken ankle/leg, the boyfriend claim Paps were chasing his car/truck and he hit the divider, poor Samatha was not wearing a seatbelt.🚑
    Strange that he did not wait for the police, but drove her to the hospital himself, maybe he did not want to be breathalyze.
    Will she be using TMZ as her mouth piece too, wonder if it’s the same hospital her dad is in, they can set up joint interviews on Saturday.

  76. Andrea says:

    I’m an only child with a racist mother’s side of the family who thumb their nose at anyone with an education (me). I also have a narcissistic, verbally abusive mother. If I somehow got with Harry, my relatives would sell stories about me in a HEARTBEAT. I could name you the ones I’d be certain about. In addition, I love my father dearly, but given he is still with my mother, I’d kindly ask them not to come if say I married Harry. What is happening here is quite cgommon in dysfunctional families. I feel for Meghan. We can’t choose our families.

  77. Laura says:

    My heart hurts for the sadness and frustration Meghan must be feeling over the stupidity of some of her family members. She should be focused on her special day with the man she loves but is instead having to deal with the seemingly never ending parade of trash-talking half siblings and a rather confused father.

    I sincerely hope Meghan is able to let go of the circus of these family members and can fully enjoy her wedding to Harry. I know she will look beautiful as a bride and believe that her marriage will be a success 😊

    • Princessk says:

      Yes, Laura…..and I will be on my way to Windsor tomorrow morning with my daughters for the weekend, and I will make sure I cheer as loudly as possible during the procession on Saturday.
      She needs positive thoughts and all of our love now,

  78. Jag says:

    Why was he waiting so close to the wedding to go to England? Any number of issues could have happened to prevent his flights from being there on time: like bad storms, tornadoes, or God forbid a giant volcanic eruption in Hawaii.

    Why did he keep calling TMZ instead of his daughter? This, apparently, since he has it backwards: “I hate the idea of missing one of the greatest moments in history and walking my daughter down the aisle.”

    Now the father is apparently telling the other relatives to shut up. I’m glad that she and Harry had a beautiful wedding anyway.