The Duchess of Sussex’s father has said his daughter cried when he confessed he would not be attending her wedding to Prince Harry.
Thomas Markle said he had broken the news to Meghan in an emotional phone call just days before she was due to walk down the aisle in Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel.
The 73-year-old watched the wedding from California, where he was recovering from heart surgery.
In an interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Mr Markle said: “They were disappointed.
“Meghan cried, I’m sure, and they both said ‘Take care of yourself, we are really worried about you’.”
He added: “I absolutely wanted to walk my daughter down the aisle.”
Adding that he was recovering well from his surgery, which saw him have three stents fitted, Mr Markle said he was “honoured” that the Prince of Wales took on the job of walking Meghan down the aisle instead.
“I can’t think of a better replacement than someone like Prince Charles,” he told the programme.
Mr Markle’s operation came shortly after allegations surfaced that he had staged photographs with the paparazzi.
He told GMB he had apologised to both Harry and Meghan, adding: “I realised it was a serious mistake. It’s hard to take it back.”
The retired TV lighting director confessed he had cried as he watched the royal ceremony on television, describing his daughter as “beautiful”.
“It was incredible watching her,” he said.
“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.”