Meghan's parents will meet Queen ahead of wedding; dad will walk her down aisle
Doria Ragland and Thomas Markle will travel to the UK from the US in the week before the May 19 ceremony at Windsor Castle.
Meghan Markle will have both her parents at her wedding to Prince Harry. According to reports, the divorced couple will meet the Queen days before the ceremony as well.
Yoga teacher Doria Ragland and reclusive former Hollywood lighting director Thomas Markle will travel to the UK from the US in the week before the May 19 ceremony at Windsor Castle.
The divorced couple will be introduced to all senior members of the Royal Family including the monarch, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in advance of the big day.
It was also confirmed today that Prince Harry still hasn't met his fiancée's father - and won't until he flies over for the wedding.
In addition, it emerged that 96-year-old Prince Philip could miss the wedding as he continues to recover from his hip operation on April 4, with an aide simply saying they 'very much hope' he will attend.
On the day of her wedding, Meghan, 36, has also insisted that both her parents have roles.
In a major departure from tradition, Doria will accompany her daughter by car to St George's Chapel, where Thomas Markle will meet his daughter to walk her down the aisle.
The page boys and flower girls at the ceremony are thought to include Prince William and Kate's children Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
In a statement today, a Kensington Palace spokesman said, “The first thing I would like to share is that Prince Harry and Ms. Markle are very much looking forward to welcoming Ms. Markle's parents to Windsor for the wedding.”
The statement further read, “Mr Thomas Markle and Ms Doria Ragland will be arriving in the UK in the week of the wedding, allowing time for Prince Harry's family, including The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to spend time with them before the big day.”
Similarly, Prince Harry has made sure that his late mother's family will play a significant part in proceedings as a way of 'celebrating the memory' of Diana, Princess of Wales.