Yahoo News Meghan Markle's sister launches scathing attack on Kensington Palace for not supporting father
While the world gears up for the Royal Wedding on Saturday, the bride’s sister is furious at how her father has been treated.
Samantha Markle launched a scathing attack on Kensington Palace for not supporting her father, Thomas, who will likely miss daughter Meghan’s big day after undergoing heart surgery.
Meghan’s half-sister dismissed claims that Kensington Palace had offered to fly Mr Markle to London early or provide any details on how he could get there.
She said: ‘That is not true or he would have been living in his place. He’d have a reliable vehicle. He’d have been with security.’
She said: ‘He is badly in need of help. I’m dreadfully worried about him.
‘He’s completely on his own.’
THE ROYAL WEDDING ON YAHOO UK – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal wedding: All the details and latest news
Ten things Meghan Markle won’t be able to do once she’s a fully-fledged royal
Who has Prince Harry dated? From Chelsy to Cressida, a timeline of his love life
Just how compatible are Harry and Meghan? The astrology behind their relationship
The best places to watch the royal wedding around the UK that aren’t your living room
The royal wedding rules Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have broken (so far)
Samantha Markle told The Sun she was worried about her father and claimed she had wired money to the 73-year-old.
She added: ‘I have receipts showing I’ve sent my father money twice by MoneyGram because he needed it.
‘There was no actual contact from Meghan and she has not spoken with my father since the heart attack. I don’t know why that is, I’m not blaming her.’
Mr Markle is said to have successfully undergone heart surgery on Wednesday to implant three stents, so will be unable to give his daughter away as he needs time to recover.
He told US website TMZ he was ‘OK’, although it will take a ‘long time to heal’.
He added: ‘Staying in the hospital a few more days. Not allowed to get excited.’
Samantha Markle was reportedly injured following a ‘paparazzi confrontation’ in Florida on Wednesday.
WHO IS MEGHAN MARKLE? (CLICK FOR GALLERY)
Her partner, named by TMZ as Mark, told the website that their car hit a concrete barrier after attempting to avoid a photographer.
She had apparently been left with a broken ankle and a fractured knee and was receiving treatment in hospital, he said.
On Wednesday, Meghan’s brother Thomas Markle Jr visited Windsor to see where his sibling will marry Prince Harry.
He told the Mirror: ‘My dad will be heartbroken that he cannot be with Meg in Windsor to walk her down the aisle.
‘He would have moved heaven and earth to be there.’
Mr Markle Jr said his sister will be a ‘perfect modern princess’ and ‘one of the best things ever to have happened to the royal family’.
Despite her parents divorcing when she was six, Harry’s future wife has remained close to her father.
Responding to reports surrounding her father’s attendance at the wedding, Kensington Palace said on Monday that it was a ‘deeply personal moment for Ms Markle’.
Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, has been tipped as a stand-in to walk their daughter down the aisle at Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel.
A rehearsal for the royal wedding is due to take place in Windsor later.
Some 250 members of the armed forces are expected to take part in Saturday’s festivities, lining the streets as the newlywed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle head on a 25-minute carriage ride through the town.
After months of planning, Thursday’s dry-run will give organisers a chance to put some finishing touches to the global event.
