Meghan
Markle with
Violet von
Westenholz
(left) and
Misha Nonoo
(below).Millie
Mackintosh is
one of bride
Meghan’s
besties.P
rince Harry and
Meghan Markle’s royal
wedding has been
thrown into deep
turmoil due to her
father’s ailing health.
Sister-in-law Erin Specht has
confirmed that it’s extremely
unlikely Tom Markle Sr will be
able to attend his daughter’s
May nuptials due to a series of
serious health concerns.
The shocking turn of events
has left Meghan devastated,
heartbroken that her beloved
dad won’t be able to walk her
down the aisle – forcing her
and Harry to come up with
alternative options.
‘I know Meghan would want
her father to be giving her away- that’s a fact,’ Erin, who dated
Meghan’s brother Tom for 16
years, tells New Idea. ‘They are
very, very close. And it would be
devastating for him – but if you
can’t travel, you can’t travel.
There’s nothing you can do.’
Erin explains that Meghan’s
dad – who currently lives a
secluded life in Mexico – is
incapacitated with high blood
pressure and significant weight
issues, with doctors refusing to
let him fly overseas.
‘He’s had health problems
his whole life,’ Erin confirms.
‘He’s got high blood pressure.
He’s a big man. I don’t want to
go into details about his health
concerns as that is a private
matter for him.
‘He would be devastated if he
couldn’t give her away.’
Her father’s grave health
diagnosis has thrown Meghan
and Harry’s hugely anticipated
nuptials into crisis, with wedding
planners holding high-level talks
with the royal couple to come up
with solutions.
Erin confirms plans to have
Meghan’s mother Doria Radlan
walk her down the aisle have
already been discussed, as has
a suggestion to have her father
film a private video message to
be played at the palace wedding
reception. Erin also claims that
Meghan may hold a private
wedding ceremony in the US
just for Harry and her dad.The Suits actress
and fiancee to
Prince Harry
celebrated with
friends during
her hen’s night
at a glamorous
spa in
Edinburgh.Photos of Meghan with friends and with wineglasses: instagram.com.With Meghan’s stress levels at an
all-time high, thanks to her dad’s
heartbreaking health crisis, it’s no
surprise that Harry has been
desperate to help ease her angst.
As a result, the caring 33-year-
old arranged for his fiancee’s hen’s
night to be brought forward as
a surprise – giving her a break
from the all the wedding tension.
The bachelorette party was held
on March 4 at a glamorous spa
retreat in Edinburgh, where
Meghan and her close pals were
pampered and treated to five-star
luxury. She was joined by close
friend Millie Mackintosh, a former
UK star who she met in LAseveral years ago, and Harry’s
childhood pal Violet von
Westenholz – as well as fashion
designer Misha Nonoo, who
introduced the lovebirds in 2016.
‘Harry felt that Meghan really
needed some time out from all the
pressure of the wedding,’ says a
palace source.
‘It’s been a full-on experience
since being thrust into the spotlight
with the engagement announcement
and with all the wedding planning- but her father’s ill health has
really broken her.
‘Meghan’s UK friends were only
too happy to oblige.’
HEN’S NIGHT
‘If her dad
can’t be there,
she will go to
him,’ Erin says.
‘Worst-case
scenario, they
can come and
have a private
ceremony or
a private
celebration.
‘But she would
absolutely make sure
he was involved in any
way he could be.
‘If he can’t be there he will do
a video message for her privately.
He is a very private person and
adores her.’
Erin, a painter who dated
Tom Jr from 1999 until 2016,
says she got to know the family
intimately and would regularly
speak to Tom Sr every week –
even after she had split up with
his son.
And even though Tom Sr
made a concerted attempt to
improve his health so he could
travel abroad to the UK for his
daughter’s wedding, his efforts
had fallen short.
‘He’s led a lifestyle since he
was 20 that is not healthy, and
he has made some unhealthychoices,’ a source
close to the family
tells New Idea.
‘He’s never been
one to go see the
doctor. He knows
he’s overweight
and it’s causing him
problems.
‘Tom loves to
eat lobster, red
meat, steak,
potatoes with sour
cream – fancy stuff.
‘He suffers from
high blood pressure.
He knew from the
beginning things
were serious with
Meghan and Harry
and the chances were
they’d get married.
He’s had months to get
his health in check.
‘But now he’s
running out of time.’
By Zoe NaumanMEGHAN’S SURPRISE
‘HE’S HAD HEALTH PROBLEMS HIS
WHOLE LIFE... HE’S GOT HIGH
BLOOD PRESSURE. HE’S A BIG MAN’