Meghan Markle’s father calls staged paparazzi photos a ‘serious mistake’

Thomas Markle Snr has given a sombre reflection on staged paparazzi photographs which were beamed around the world in the run-up to his daughter’s wedding. 

In May it surfaced Mr Markle had secretly collaborated with a British paparazzi photographer to stage a series of pictures which were subsequently sold to newspapers around the world. 

The 73-year-old today revealed his regret at allowing the pictures – which showed him looking at images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in an internet cafe – to be taken.  

Thomas Markle Snr has given a sombre reflection on staged paparazzi photographs which were beamed around the world in the run-up to his daughter’s wedding 

In May it surfaced Mr Markle had secretly collaborated with a British paparazzi photographer to stage a series of pictures which were subsequently sold to newspapers around the world

In May it surfaced Mr Markle had secretly collaborated with a British paparazzi photographer to stage a series of pictures which were subsequently sold to newspapers around the world

Mr Markle opened up about conversations he had with the pair about the media attention surrounding him. 

He told GMB: ‘Most part of it was, ‘Don’t speak to the press.’ The rest of the things were just be careful. 

‘But they were very emphatic about not giving any information to the press or talking to them, because it just encourages them more. So none the less, that’s what I tried to do.’ 

Despite these conversations however, allegations later surfaced that he had staged photographs with the paparazzi.  

Footage obtained by The Mail on Sunday showed the 73-year-old former lighting director arriving at an internet cafe with photographer Jeff Rayner. 

Minutes later the pair are seen preparing to photograph Mr Markle while he is sitting at a computer looking at a news story about his daughter and Prince Harry.

Shortly after the furore, Mr Markle was taken to hospital to have three stents fitted.

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.’

Mr Markle opened up about conversations he had with the pair about the media attention surrounding him

Mr Markle opened up about conversations he had with the pair about the media attention surrounding him

The staged photographs came despite Kensington Palace issuing a warning to publishers to respect Mr Markle’s privacy, saying he had been ‘harassed’ by paparazzi.

A Mail on Sunday investigation established that the internet cafe pictures were part of a series Rayner took of Meghan’s father. 

They were published in newspapers, magazines and on websites around the world.

Other pictures of Mr Markle taken by Rayner include one of him studying a book of British landmarks at a Starbucks cafe, and another in which he appears to be working out with weights to get in shape for the big day. 

Another picture apparently showing Mr Markle exercising in a bid to shed weight ahead of the big day also appeared in a British newspaper.



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