Owner of Airbnb where Thomas Markle watched royal wedding speaks out

Meghan Markle’s dad watched her walk the aisle on a small TV while holed up completely alone in a $30-a-night Airbnb apartment in Mexico.

Thomas Markle came straight from hospital to the guesthouse owned by Charlotte Jane, 36, last Thursday, accompanied by a friend.

She claims the first question he asked at check in ‘is there a TV in the room – so I can watch the wedding?’

The Airbnb host said he barely left his room until check out on Monday and revealed he’d watched his daughter’s wedding on TV and thought she looked ‘beautiful’. 

 

Meghan Markle’s father Thomas watched the Royal Wedding from a $30-a-night Airbnb in Mexico, a short distance from his Rosarito home

Charlotte Jane, 36, who owns the property, said Mr Markle arrived on Thursday having been driven from hospital by a friend and was looking for somewhere to 'lie low'

Charlotte Jane, 36, who owns the property, said Mr Markle arrived on Thursday having been driven from hospital by a friend and was looking for somewhere to ‘lie low’

Ms Jane said the first thing he asked was whether there was a TV so he could watch his daughter get married on Saturday 

Ms Jane said the first thing he asked was whether there was a TV so he could watch his daughter get married on Saturday 

Initially the 73-year-old said he was recovering from heart surgery in California when he watched his daughter exchange vows with Prince Harry

But he was actually staying in a one-bedroom guesthouse in Mexico, just three miles from his home in San Antonio Del Mar

 Mr Markle spent the weekend alone, Ms Jane said, though friends visited in order to being him food and other essentials

A source even claimed that he checked into the Airbnb on Thursday after asking the landlady if the one-bedroom guesthouse had a TV (pictured) so he could watch the wedding

The guest house also features a private patio

Mr Markle spent all of his time inside the apartment with the windows shut, Ms Jane added, and was extremely reluctant to open the door 

Thomas, 73, did not attend the Royal Wedding in Windsor after complaining of a heart condition.

Charlotte said he arrived at the one-bed apartment in Baja Malibu, Tijuana, Mexico, around 9.30pm on Thursday and checked out on Monday morning.

Speaking on Tuesday, she said: ‘His friend picked him up from hospital and brought him to me. She said he was looking for a safe haven for him to go to. She was taking care of her friend.

‘He had just come from hospital. He was really, really, nice.

‘I said it was last minute and I’d have to do some changing of the sheets and things, but he said he didn’t care he just needed somewhere to rest. He was very, very humble.

‘His first question right away was ‘is there a TV so I can watch the wedding?’

‘That was pretty much the only conversation I had with him until he checked out.

‘He stayed in the apartment with the windows shut.

‘People came and brought him food and things.

‘I offered a couple of times to do him dinner, but he was reluctant to unlock his door.

‘When he left I said to him that I watched the wedding and I thought his daughter looked beautiful.

‘He said ‘thank you’ and said ‘yes, she did’. He said the wedding was beautiful.

‘I invited him to brunch across the street with friends but he said no. He was really worried about being photographed.

‘I feel like he was sad not to be there. I think if he was in good health he would have been there. You could tell he had just had had surgery.

‘He looked like someone who needed rest.’

Since Markle Sr’s stay the price of the Airbnb has shot up to $567 per night. 

‘Enjoy staying in this brand new guest house in a gated community with 24 hour security,’ the website reads.  

Markle Sr checked out of the Airbnb on Monday and was seen for the first time two days after the royal wedding.

Since Markle Sr's stay the price of the Airbnb has shot up to $567 per night. Pictured is the sink inside the bathroom 

Since Markle Sr’s stay the price of the Airbnb has shot up to $567 per night. Pictured is the sink inside the bathroom 

'Enjoy staying in this brand new guest house in a gated community with 24 hour security,' the website reads

Pictured is the door leading outside the home

‘Enjoy staying in this brand new guest house in a gated community with 24 hour security,’ the website reads

The unit features an fireplace and granite countertops along with a private patio that's 'perfect for small families, couples, and small groups

The unit features an fireplace and granite countertops (left) along with a private patio that’s ‘perfect for small families, couples, and small groups. It’s also located in the exclusive Baja Malibu Lomas (right, an outside shot of the neighborhood)

The property Markle Sr stayed out was inside a gated community (pictured) 

The property Markle Sr stayed out was inside a gated community (pictured) 

DailyMail.com’s exclusive photos were taken in his adopted hometown of Rosarito, Mexico, where he has been recovering from what he revealed to be a heart operation.

Markle Sr had initially hoped to make the ceremony, which took place on Saturday morning, but made the decision to stay home shortly after suffering a heart attack two weeks ago.

He said at that time that he did not want to cause his daughter any further embarrassment, with DailyMail.com revealing just one day prior that he had been paid to stage photographs with an agency.

On his way home from the hospital, Markle Sr stopped off at a Starbucks drive-thru and could be seen holding a Frappuccino with whipped cream and chocolate on top.

He purchased the drink despite the fact that he had just returned home from what he says was a heart procedure to insert three stents. 

But on Tuesday, Markle Sr told TMZ that his drink didn’t have coffee and he didn’t even finish it.

DailyMail.com's exclusive photos were taken in his adopted hometown of Rosarito, Mexico, where he has been recovering from a heart operation

Markle Sr is seen gathering his things from a vehicle on Monday

He checked out of the Airbnb on Monday and was seen for the first time two days after the Royal Wedding as he returned home from hospital 

Markle Sr had initially hoped to make the ceremony, which took place on Saturday morning, but was forced to pull out after allegedly suffering a heart attack last week

Markle Sr had initially hoped to make the ceremony, which took place on Saturday morning, but was forced to pull out after allegedly suffering a heart attack last week

He returned to his San Antonio Del Mar property Monday - driven in by a different friend, single mom Lori Davis, 38, with whom he has previously been pictured enjoying a dinner date

He returned to his San Antonio Del Mar property Monday – driven in by a different friend, single mom Lori Davis, 38, with whom he has previously been pictured enjoying a dinner date

At one point, Markle Sr surprisingly stopped at a Starbucks drive-thru and appeared to walk away with a Frappuccino (pictured) in hand, with whipped cream and chocolate on the top, despite having heart surgery last week 

At one point, Markle Sr surprisingly stopped at a Starbucks drive-thru and appeared to walk away with a Frappuccino (pictured) in hand, with whipped cream and chocolate on the top, despite having heart surgery last week 

On Wednesday, he was admitted to hospital for the operation, which more than likely will result in him having to take blood-thinning medication for the rest of his life.

Since being released from medical supervision, Markle Sr has been staying with friends in a different gated compound a few miles from his home.

Markle Sr was previpously photographed by DailyMail.com at a McDonald’s drive-thru two days after he said he had suffered a heart attack picking up two Happy Meals and a chocolate milkshake covered with whipped cream around lunchtime.

A few hours later, Thomas was spotted again as he pulled into a KFC near the Mexican border for dinner, grabbing himself a bucket of chicken for dinner. 

The night prior he was seen getting a Yoohoo and some Gas X at a 7-11 in San Diego. 

This despite the fact that he is now claiming to have suffered a heart attack just two days prior to his back-to-back fast food feasts. 

Drive thru: Markle was previously seen grabbing a frozen beverage with whipped cream at McDonalds two days after he said he had a heart attack (above)

Drive thru: Markle was previously seen grabbing a frozen beverage with whipped cream at McDonalds two days after he said he had a heart attack (above)

Shake it up: He was also seen picking up a Yoohoo (above) the day after he said he suffered a heart attack

Shake it up: He was also seen picking up a Yoohoo (above) the day after he said he suffered a heart attack

He returned to his San Antonio Del Mar property Monday – driven in by a different friend, single mom Lori Davis, 38, with whom he has previously been pictured enjoying a dinner date. 

His return home came days after Meghan walked down the aisle in a spectacular Givenchy dress – accompanied for part of it by her new father-in-law Prince Charles.

Her yoga teacher mother Doria Ragland, 61, was the only member of the newly minted Duchess of Sussex’ family to attend the wedding and was seated alone.

Markle Sr is understood to have watched the ceremony, which took place at 4am Pacific Time, on TV – later pronouncing it ‘joyful and emotional’ in an interview with his favored media outlet, gossip website TMZ.

The former lighting director added: ‘My baby looks beautiful and she looks very happy. I wish I were there and I wish them all my love and all happiness.’

In a second interview with the same outlet, he revealed he had texted his daughter to tell her he loved her before the ceremony and said he regretted not being able to go.

He told TMZ: ‘The service was beautiful and it [is] history. I will always regret not being able to be there and not being able to hold my daughter’s hand.’

On Wednesday, he was admitted to hospital for an operation to insert three stents ¿ and as a result, is likely to have to take blood-thinning medication for the rest of his life.  Because of the surgery Markle Sr missed out on walking his daughter down the aisle on Saturday 

On Wednesday, he was admitted to hospital for an operation to insert three stents – and as a result, is likely to have to take blood-thinning medication for the rest of his life.  Because of the surgery Markle Sr missed out on walking his daughter down the aisle on Saturday 

His return home came days after Meghan walked down the aisle in a spectacular Givenchy dress - accompanied for part of it by her new father-in-law Prince Charles (pictured) 

His return home came days after Meghan walked down the aisle in a spectacular Givenchy dress – accompanied for part of it by her new father-in-law Prince Charles (pictured) 

Markle Sr is understood to have watched the ceremony, which took place at 4am Pacific Time, on TV ¿ later pronouncing it 'joyful and emotional'

Markle Sr is understood to have watched the ceremony, which took place at 4am Pacific Time, on TV – later pronouncing it ‘joyful and emotional’

The former lighting director added: 'My baby looks beautiful and she looks very happy. I wish I were there and I wish them all my love and all happiness'

The former lighting director added: ‘My baby looks beautiful and she looks very happy. I wish I were there and I wish them all my love and all happiness’

Markle Sr also slammed his son and eldest daughter Thomas Jr, 51, and Samantha Grant, 53, saying they ‘should just shut up about everything’.

On Monday, Meghan’s estranged half-sister Samantha called on the duchess to ‘do the right thing’ and reunite their family in the wake of the royal wedding.

She also called on Prince Harry to fly Markle Sr over once he is back to full health in order that he is able to fulfill his lifelong dream of visiting Buckingham Palace.

Last week he blamed his health problems on their constant carping in the media and said he had been forced to take valium to deal with the heartache caused by their attacks on Meghan.

Meghans's yoga teacher mother Doria Ragland (pictured), 61, was the only member of the newly minted Duchess of Sussex' family to attend the wedding

Meghans’s yoga teacher mother Doria Ragland (pictured), 61, was the only member of the newly minted Duchess of Sussex’ family to attend the wedding

His ex-wife Roslyn, 72, has also hit out at their behavior, telling DailyMail.com she ‘chewed out Tom for making us look like a bunch of hillbillies’.

She also described estranged daughter Samantha as ‘an embarrassment’ to the family and said she needs to ‘get some dignity’.

Markle Sr is now expected to keep a low profile at his single-story home north of Rosarito while he recovers from his operation and the fallout from the fake pictures scandal that emerged just over a week ago.

The Mail on Sunday expose included CCTV footage of Markle Sr colluding with Los Angeles-based photographer Jeff Rayner, 44, to stage ‘candid’ pictures of him looking at Meghan’s photo on the internet.

Friends told DailyMail.com he had been left ’embarrassed’ by the incident.

As a result of the scandal and his subsequent health problems, he is still to meet new son-in-law Prince Harry, 33, although he is thought to have spoken with the royal by phone.

Markle Sr revealed earlier this week that he plans to travel to London later this year to meet the royals after failing to make the wedding.

His experiences in the UK will be in stark contrast to Rosarito, where he has lived since relocating from Los Angeles on his retirement in 2011.

The border town, which has a population of approximately 70,000 people, sits eight miles south of San Diego and is notoriously crime-plagued. 

Meghan's estranged half-sister Samantha Markle (left) called on the duchess to 'do the right thing' and reunite their family in the wake of the royal wedding. She also called on Prince Harry to fly Markle Sr over once he is back to full health so he can visit Buckingham Palace

Meghan’s estranged half-sister Samantha Markle (left) called on the duchess to ‘do the right thing’ and reunite their family in the wake of the royal wedding. She also called on Prince Harry to fly Markle Sr over once he is back to full health so he can visit Buckingham Palace

Instead of focusing on the Royal Wedding, headlines in the local papers last week noted that Baja California has already experienced 1000 murders in 2018 alone.

Another reported the discovery of a man’s mutilated body inside a tamale van left in nearby Tijuana’s Zona Norte district which sits beside the US border crossing at San Ysidro.

His home, in a large expat complex called San Antonio del Mar, sits on a clifftop overlooking a trash-strewn beach butting onto the Pacific.

An open sewage pipe spills directly into the water, creating a filthy brown slick that extends out past the rocks into the ocean.

The compound has cobbled streets and a motley collection of houses, with architectural styles ranging from ultra-modern boxes to rambling Tuscan style properties in a rainbow of bright colors.

Four miles away is the Papellon Shopping Mall where Markle Sr does his bi-weekly grocery run at the huge Walmart supermarket and a branch of Home Depot where he was recently photographed purchasing a toilet.

He is also understood to occasionally frequent expat bar Plan B and a café called Coffe House, both of which are less than a mile from his home.

Plan B owner Chris Larsen said he had considered throwing a royal-themed celebration but told DailyMail.com that his license wouldn’t allow him to open the bar at 4am.

In the early hours of Saturday morning, as the wedding got underway in Windsor, the streets of Rosarito were totally deserted but for a stray dog seen loping down main drag Benito Juarez.

Markle Sr revealed earlier this week that he plans to travel to London later this year to meet the royals after failing to make the wedding

Markle Sr revealed earlier this week that he plans to travel to London later this year to meet the royals after failing to make the wedding

The newly married Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, leaving Windsor Castle after their wedding to attend an evening reception at Frogmore House, hosted by the Prince of Wales

The newly married Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, leaving Windsor Castle after their wedding to attend an evening reception at Frogmore House, hosted by the Prince of Wales

Even late-night drinking establishments such as Acua Baja Bar & Mar were empty, with the popular party spot shutting at its usual time of 3am instead of extending its hours.

Markle Sr later told TMZ that he had watched the ceremony from his hospital bed but his neighbors in Rosarito appeared not to have tuned in, with every home dark as the wedding began.

Other members of the Markle clan also viewed the ceremony on TV with Roslyn telling DailyMail.com she got up at 3am to see the celebration.

Roslyn, who lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, said: ‘Meghan looked wonderful and I thought her dress was classically beautiful. Doria looked proud and lovely.’

She said former husband Markle Sr would have been ‘a bit tearful’ as he watched the ceremony and added:

‘I’m sorry that her father missed out on this joyous occasion. I know he was watching and was a bit tearful – but he was very proud.’

Her two eldest children, neither of whom were invited to the wedding, also watched proceedings from afar – and both cashed in.

Samantha was at home in Ocala, Florida, with an Australian TV crew and is understood to have been paid around $25,000 to appear.

Tom Jr, meanwhile, was in the UK as the paid guest of a tabloid newspaper.



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk