Doubts over whether Meghan Markle’s father will walk her down the aisle continue with just days to go until the royal wedding.
The American former actress’s half-sister, Samantha Markle, said she hoped Thomas Markle would be at the ceremony, but that he had faced an “unbelievable amount of stress”.
Celebrity website TMZ claimed Mr Markle was pulling out of the wedding amid allegations he cooperated with a Los Angeles based photo agency to stage pictures of himself preparing for the wedding day
Kensington Palace declined to confirm whether or not Mr Markle had pulled out of attending but appealed for understanding.
A Kensington Palace spokesman said: “This is a deeply personal moment for Ms Markle in the days before her wedding. She and Prince Harry ask again for understanding and respect to be extended to Mr Markle in this difficult situation.”
— PA Royal Reporters (@PARoyal) May 14, 2018
Meanwhile, members of Meghan Markle’s extended family have arrived in London ahead of the royal wedding.
Ms Markle’s sister-in-law Tracy Dooley was pictured at Heathrow Airport with sons Tyler and Thomas.
Ms Dooley, who was married to the former actress’s half-brother, has previously told ITV’s Good Morning Britain she had not received an invitation to the ceremony at Windsor Castle on Saturday, admitting she had not seen Ms Markle for 20 years.
The sun is due to shine on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as forecasters predict temperatures of up to 23C (73.4F) on their wedding day.
The royal couple and the thousands of well-wishers who will gather in Windsor on Saturday can look forward to mostly clear skies, according to the Met Office.
Those planning to line the streets in order to get a glimpse of the pair should pack the sun cream as they are likely to be in the sun’s glare for most of the day.