Meghan Markle’s mum and dad are ‘barely on speaking terms’ amid Royal Wedding fiasco
MEGHAN Markle's parents are barely on speaking terms as the fallout over the US actress' dad staging paparazzi photos continues.
Yoga instructor Doria Ragland is said to be upset at her ex-husband Thomas Markle for the controversy - and for failing to stop his family from "trashing" their daughter ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry.
Doria, who was today pictured heading to the airport to make her way to the UK for her daughter's big day, is now tipped to give Meghan away after Thomas said he had to miss the wedding on Saturday and undergo a heart operation.
A source close to the family said Doria's relationship with Thomas had already been put under strain as his family continued to bad-mouth their daughter.
What we know so far...
- Meghan Markle's dad Thomas will reportedly undergo major heart surgery on Wednesday afternoon and WON'T attend the Royal Wedding on Saturday
- He'd earlier said he wouldn't be attending for fear of embarrassing Meghan and the royal family over staged paparazzi photos
- The 73-year-old suffered a heart scare last week which he has reportedly blamed on an open letter by his son Tom Jr
- Mr Markle backed Meghan's mum Doria Ragland to give her away instead after he pulled out
- Mum Doria is said to not be on speaking terms with Thomas Markle, angry his family has been trashing Meghan
- The bride's best friend Jessica Mulroney jetted into London Heathrow last night, with her kids - who will be in the wedding - by her side
- Kensington Palace today announced that Prince George and Princess Charlotte would be among the bridesmaids and page boys at the wedding
Reclusive Thomas was recently pictured leaving potted plants out the front of Doria's LA home in an apparent attempt to make peace.
The source told The Sun Online: "Thomas and Doria are currently barely speaking to one another. He is trying to make peace after everything that has happened.
"Their relationship had been hanging by a thread for months before the staged photo scandals. He had told friends that he wanted to come with the peace gesture for an appeasement before the wedding and his daughter's big day, but his recent actions have crushed that."
The source added: "The couple were also at odds with one another because of his other children speaking out so disrespectfully about Meghan in the last year.
"She had asked him to have them not do so, but little changed.
"Their divorce was quite acrimonious, and they really lived very separate lives and would only connect when necessary."
Meghan's estranged family certainly haven't been shy at speaking out about the US actress ahead of the royal wedding.
Her half-brother Thomas Jr even wrote an open letter to Prince Harry, telling the 33-year-old royal to call off the upcoming nuptials, blasting it as a "fake fairy tale".
Half-sister Samantha Markle has also not held back in discussing Meghan and was even labelled a "vulture" by Piers Morgan for continually criticising the actress.
After Meghan wore a £56,000 designer dress for her engagement photo, Samantha Markle, 52, said: "If you can spend $75,000 on a dress, you can spend $75,000 on your dad."
Some family members are also expected to cash in on the Royal Wedding, with a Channel 4 documentary giving an insight into Prince Harry's future in-laws.
Her family members were also pictured arriving in London, drafted in as "special correspondents" for Good Morning Britain for the big day.
But Meghan's support system has also started to fly into the UK, with best pal Jessica Mulroney arriving at London Heathrow last night.
The support couldn't come at a better time for Meghan, with the US actress having had to beg her dad to come to her wedding after TMZ revealed he would not be walking her down the aisle.
The 73-year-old recluse had initially intended on being by his daughter's side but pulled out after it was revealed he had staged photographs with paparazzi - later admitting they were "stupid" and "hammy".
He soon changed his mind, telling TMZ: ";I hate the idea of missing one of the greatest moments in history and walking my daughter down the aisle.”
But he again did an about-face, revealing that he needed urgent heart surgery and would not be able to fly to the UK for the wedding - or to meet his future son-in-law and the royal family.
Thomas later said that he believed Doria would be a good choice to walk Meghan down the aisle.
Yoga instructor Doria, who has already met Prince Harry, is described as a "free-spirited clinical therapist" who has been by her daughter's side for a number of events.
Ladbrokes has since put it at 4/6 odds that Meghan's mum Doria will be by her side when she walks down the aisle, while Prince Charles is tipped at 2/1.
The Duke of Cambridge has also been tipped to step up to the plate, with 5/1 odds of walking Meghan down the aisle, while there have been a flurry of bets predicting the US actress would walk down the aisle alone.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.