Royal wedding: Meghan’s father WILL walk the actress down the aisle

Proud Meghan Markle will have both her parents at her wedding to Prince Harry later this month – and the divorced couple will meet the Queen days before the ceremony, it can be revealed.

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.

Astonishingly, 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.

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 major departure from tradition, Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland will accompany her daughter by car to the chapel

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.

‘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.

‘Both of the bride’s parents will have important roles in the wedding. On the morning of the wedding, Ms Ragland will travel with Ms Markle by car to Windsor Castle.

‘Mr Markle will walk his daughter down the aisle of St George’s Chapel. Ms Markle is delighted to have her parents by her side on this important and happy occasion.’

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.

All three of Princess Diana’s siblings – Earl Spencer, Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale will be present with their families – and Lady Jane will give a reading during the service. 

The spokesman added: ‘In addition to having the support of The Queen, his father The Prince of Wales, and his brother Prince William as Best Man, Prince Harry is also keen to involve his mother’s family in his wedding. 

Meghan Markle – pictured (left) as Rachel Zane in US TV series Suits, and with her husband-to-be Prince Harry (right) on March 23 in Lisburn, Nothern Ireland – will be married on May 19

‘All three siblings of Diana, Princess of Wales will be in attendance and Lady Jane Fellowes will give the reading.

‘Prince Harry and Ms Markle both feel honoured that Lady Jane will be representing her family and helping to celebrate the memory of the late Princess on the wedding day.’

Harry and Meghan in London’s Trafalgar Square on April 23

Further details around royal wedding day were also released by Kensington Palace during a briefing for media today including:

• The couple will spend, as according to tradition, the night before their wedding apart.
• There will be no American-style maid of honour and all of the couple’s page boys and bridesmaids – who are expected to include Prince George and Princess Charlotte – will be children.
• The couple will not go on honeymoon straight away – and will, remarkably, undertake their first public engagement as man and wife just days after the ceremony.
• The couple’s guests will arrive at St George’s Chapel between 9.30am and 11am on May 19. Guests will be arriving at the Round Tower by coach and will be seen walking to the South Door of St George’s Chapel.
• Members of The Royal Family will begin to arrive from 1120hrs, and enter St George’s Chapel via the Galilee Porch. Some will be on foot, and others will arrive by car.
• Prince Harry and his brother The Duke of Cambridge, who is his best man, will arrive at St George’s Chapel most likely by foot and will enter via the West Steps. This will allow Their Royal Highnesses to acknowledge the 1,200 members of the public invited into the Castle precincts, including the 200 charity representatives gathered in the Horseshoe Cloister at the bottom of the steps.
• On the morning of the wedding, Meghan will get ready with her mother and girlfriends at a mystery location. Mother and daughter will be filmed leaving in their car together.
• Meghan and Doria will stop just before they get to the venue. Doria will then head on into the chapel through the entrance reserved for members of the royal family, while Meghan will be joined by some of her Bridesmaids and Page Boys before she continues her journey to the church, entering via the West Steps.
• The Service will take around an hour and afterwards the newly married couple will process out of the church and acknowledge the 200 representatives of Prince Harry’s charities gathered in the Cloister. A spokesman said: ‘The couple are delighted that these people who will be such an important part of their official work in the years to come will be the first people they see after their wedding.’
• As the couple step into their Carriage, close family members will gather on the West Steps to wave them off on their Procession, which is due to take just under 25 minutes. A spokesman added: ‘Prince Harry and Ms. Markle are very much looking forward to this part of the day. It will be their chance to express their gratitude for the goodwill and warm wishes they have received from all quarters in the months since their engagement.’
• Members of the congregation will file out of the church onto the grass to see the start of the Procession before walking to the reception at St George’s Hall. All guests will be attending the reception at St George’s Hall in Windsor Castle afterwards, which will last until around 3.30pm.
• Later the bride and groom will be photographed by media departing Windsor Castle for the evening reception at Frogmore House.

A spokesman for the couple said: ‘The bridesmaids and page boys are all children. Ms Markle will not have a maid of honour. She has a very close group of friends and didn’t want to choose one over the other. 

‘They have been actively involved in helping her prepare for the day and will be there with her the day before in London. She will be pleased to have their support on the day but they have no official role.’ 

The page boys and flower girls at the ceremony are thought to include Prince George (left) and Princess Charlotte (right)

Kensington Palace said: ‘The couple will be going on honeymoon but not straight away and I can say that they will have their first engagement as a married couple the week after the wedding, which we will be making more announcement about soon. They will not conduct any more engagements between now and the wedding. ‘

Asked whether the couple would kiss for the cameras on the steps of the chapel, their spokesman laughed: ‘I have no comment on kissing today.’

A Kensington Palace spokesman said: ‘On the day itself we expect Windsor to be very busy. The council has worked with partners including Thames Valley Police to plan what will be a fantastic day of celebrations. 

‘As the Royal Borough of Windsor has said, work is well underway to ensure the occasion is a memorable and joyous one for all involved and they are working closely with a wide range of partners.

‘Rail operators will be putting on extra trains and there will be park and walk and park and float services (arriving by boat) to help people get into town. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and book all travel arrangements early so they can make the most of their trip.

‘I would very much appreciate the media’s assistance in spreading the message that visitors to Windsor will have a chance to be part of a very special day, but those who will be heading to the town really do need to plan their journeys carefully.’

Harry and Meghan will marry at St George’s Chapel (above) on the grounds of Windsor Castle

The Royal Borough of Windsor has confirmed that preparations include:

• A 6,000 space pre-booked car parking area at the Review Ground, just off the Long Walk;
• Food stalls and facilities, including big screens showing live footage of the wedding and Procession, on the Long Walk and in Alexandra Gardens;
• Viewing areas along the whole Procession Route (Castle Hill, High Street, Sheet Street, Kings Road, Albert Road and the Long Walk);
• A team of 140 Royal Borough Ambassadors have volunteered to help steward the event and assist visitors throughout the day;
• The town centre will be decorated with bunting and ceremonial banners along parts of the Procession Route and;
• Live entertainment from local groups throughout the town centre.

Concluding the briefing a spokesman for the couple added: ‘We are now just over two weeks away from the wedding of His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales and Ms Meghan Markle. 

This graphic shows what route the carriage procession will take through Windsor on May 19

‘As they have travelled around the UK in the months since their engagement last November, Prince Harry and Ms Markle have been incredibly grateful for the support they have received from members of the public.

‘The crowds that have turned out in Nottingham, Cardiff, Brixton, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Belfast, Bath and elsewhere have given Ms Markle a welcome to the United Kingdom marked by warmth, enthusiasm, and a real sense of fun.

‘We said from the outset that Prince Harry and Ms Markle were keen to make sure that members of the public would have the opportunity to feel part of the celebrations on their wedding day.

‘This is their way of expressing their gratitude for the messages of support they have received from around the UK, the Commonwealth, Ms Markle’s home country of the United States, and right around the world.

‘As we said back in November, this wedding will be guided by tradition, allowing everyone to celebrate what makes Royal Weddings so special, but also one which reflects the personalities of Prince Harry and Ms Markle. ‘