Meghan Markle’s Dad, Thomas Markle, Admits He Lied To Prince Harry About Staged Papparazzi Photos

Meghan Markle, the new Duchess of Sussex, has been the subject of intense media attacks and subsequent apologies from none other than her own father, Thomas Markle. Markle was set to walk his daughter down the aisle during her wedding to Prince Harry this May before a series of events rocked the media. Several days before the wedding, Markle staged a series of paparazzi photos with the help of his other daughter (Meghan’s half-sister) Samantha Markle. A few days later, he was hospitalized for a heart attack.

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Markle was caught on video meeting with photographer Jeff Rayner in an internet cafe. Markle was willingly photographed reading an article about Meghan and Harry on a computer. Next, they went to a party goods store where a shop assistant posed as a tailor as they pretended to fit Markle for a suit. In an interview with The Mail On Sunday this weekend, Markle claimed that Prince Harry had called him when the footage was released to Kensington Palace. Markle revealed that, during this call, Prince Harry asked if he was colluding with the paparazzi. Markle initially lied and said he was being measured for a hoodie. After Markle was hospitalized, Prince Harry allegedly called him again and reminded him of his previous advice not to speak to the press: “If you had listened to me this would never have happened.” Markle said that he then told the prince, “Maybe it would be better for you guys if I was dead. Then you could pretend to be sad.” He added that he then hung up on his future son-in-law.

Markle has since told the truth of his collusion, but it is still unclear of what his motives were. Ever since he was uninvited from the wedding, Markle has been speaking out in the press, berating the royal family. He has said many times that he regrets his paparazzi involvement and that he is not angry with Meghan and Harry, but he has accused the royal family as a whole of keeping him away from his daughter.

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His other daughter Samantha has attacked her sister on Twitter for not “paying tribute” to their father. She even went so far as to say that if their father were to pass away, “it’s on you Meg.” Samantha has since confessed to helping her father set up the photos with the paparazzi. She claimed that it was to boost Mr. Markle’s image as the Duchess’ father.

Markle has stated in his interview with The Mail, that he realizes that Prince Harry and Meghan were right to be angry, but found it insensitive of Harry to demand answers of him while he was in the hospital. He regrets that he never followed Prince Harry’s advice to avoid the press, but says the most painful part of all was when Meghan told him he could not make a speech at the wedding. Markle added, “I’m not at Harry. I’m not mad at Meghan. I love them. I wish them well. But as for the rest of it, f—k it. I’m done.” Kensington Palace has not responded to Markle’s statements.