Meghan Markle’s father
Thomas Markle has finally broken his silence after his no show at the
Royal Wedding and revealed the promise he made
Prince Harry swear by before he married his daughter.
The 73-year-old former lighting director admitted he was “jealous” as he watched a “handsome” Prince Charles walk his daughter Meghan Markle down the aisle in
Windsor.
Speaking in his first ever TV interview, the American shared details about his private phone call with Prince Harry, whom he described as a “great and interesting guy”, when he was asked to give his blessing to the wedding.
He also revealed his regret at becoming a “footnote in one of the greatest moments in history”.
Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, he said: “Harry asked for her hand on the phone and I said ‘You are a gentleman, promise me you will never raise your hand against my daughter and of course I will grant you my permission’.”
He also revealed that the Duchess of Sussex "cried" when he told the couple he could not make the wedding as he was recovered from heart surgery, saying: “They were disappointed.
"Meghan cried, I'm sure, and they both said, 'Take care of yourself, we are really worried about you'."
Thomas Markle reportedly watched the Royal Wedding alone from a £23-a-night Airbnb.
He told GMB presenters Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid: "She was beautiful. I cried a little watching her. I was very proud and I couldn’t see a better moment in my life. The whole world was watching my daughter.
"The unfortunate thing now is that I’m a footnote in one of the greatest moments in history instead of a dad walking his daughter down the aisle.
"It was a very emotional moment. I regretted it because I really wanted to walk her down the aisle. But I’m thankful for how it all went."
Mr Markle, who divorced the Suits star's mother Doria when Meghan Markle was just six-years-old was due to walk his daughter down the aisle, but Harry’s father Prince Charles stepped in at last minute.
Just days before the nupitals, Mr Markle was admitted to hospital for an operation to insert three stents following a heart attack and is now likely to have to take blood-thinning medication for the rest of his life.
Speaking about Prince Charles stepping in to replace him, he said: "I can’t think of a better replacement than Mr Charles. He looked very handsome.
"I was jealous, I wish it was me but thank god he was there and I thank him for that."
Mr Markle also revealed how Prince Harry could be “open to the experiment of Brexit” as he discussed the UK’s decision to leave the EU with his son-in-law.
When pushed by the presenter about what Prince Harry had said about Brexit, Mr Markle described the chat as a “loose conversation”.
The Duchess of Sussex’s father said that the pair had: “a loose conversation about something we have to try. There’s no real commitment to it".
When asked about the Prince’s views on the issue, Mr Markle added: “I think he was open to the experiment".