Thomas Markle has spoken out for the first time about missing the royal wedding in an exclusive interview which aired on Good Morning Britain this morning.
The 73-year-old revealed the heartbreaking moment he had to tell his daughter Meghan Markle that he couldn’t walk her down the aisle on her big day.
Speaking about the moment he told his daughter and her husband-to-be Prince Harry that he would not make the wedding, he said, “They were disappointed. Meghan cried, I’m sure, and they both said ‘Take care of yourself, we are really worried about you’.”
“I absolutely wanted to walk my daughter down the aisle,” he continued. “It was incredible watching her.”
WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Thomas Markle talks about his heart surgery and the moment he told Meghan he couldn’t attend the royal wedding #GMB pic.twitter.com/oIpPjPbd6u
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) June 18, 2018
“I was very proud. I was very upset that it wasn’t me (walking her down the aisle) but the whole world was watching my daughter. I was very happy about that.
“The unfortunate thing for me now is I’m a footnote in one of the greatest moments in history rather than the dad walking her down the aisle. That upsets me somewhat.”
“I couldn’t be more proud of those two, I think they’ll do a fabulous job,” he said. “They’re great and I love them dearly. I’m very happy to have a new son-in-law.”
The retired lighting director caused serious controversy just days before the royal wedding when it was revealed that he had staged paparazzi photos.
WORLD EXCLUSIVE: ‘I feel bad about it. I apologise for it’ – Mr Markle addresses the staged paparazzi photos leading up to the royal wedding #GMB pic.twitter.com/YrYFfVk7H1
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) June 18, 2018
Speaking about the scandal, Thomas said, “I accept full responsibility. I can say I’m sorry for those things for the rest of my life, but I’m paying for those things for the rest of my life.”
“But as long as they’re happy and have a great life and have some beautiful children and do good things in the world, I can’t ask for more. I feel bad about it, I apologise for it and that’s all I can do. That was a mistake.”
Thomas is yet to meet his new son-in-law, but has spoken to him over the phone several times.
On sitting down for an interview with ‘Good Morning Britain’, Thomas said he hopes he has not offended his daughter and Prince Harry – but he was eager to tell his side of the story.
‘My daughter has been a Princess since the day she was born.’
Thomas Markle, father of the Duchess of Sussex, speaks about the moment he spoke to Prince Harry for the first time in a WORLD EXCLUSIVE interview. pic.twitter.com/yywNJYc1sn
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) June 18, 2018
“I hope I haven’t offended them, I don’t think I have, they know I love them and I hope the royals – the Royal family – will understand my feelings as well.”
“Over the last few weeks, everybody has had different opinions, some people said I was faking my heart attack, some people said I was skipping out, all kinds of stories were coming out about me, negative ones.
“But I just want people to know I’m a normal guy, I’m a retired man and I was living a quiet little life and this happened, and lots of things happened around it, and I’ve tried to survive through that, but more than anything I don’t want my daughter or new son-in-law to be hurt by any of this. I want to have a nice, normal relationship with my royal family as well now,” he added.
