Meghan Markle's father will not be attending her wedding to Prince Harry on Saturday after being busted for selling staged paparazzi photos of himself ahead of the big day.
Thomas Markle tells TMZ that he had a heart attack six years ago, but checked himself out of the hospital so he could walk his daughter down the aisle. However, he will now steer clear of the event to avoid embarrassing her.
Kensington Palace has since issued a statement that reads, "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."
Meanwhile, Daily Mail editor-at-large Piers Morgan tells Entertainment Tonight that Markle and Harry are likely very upset.
"It's really embarrassing, to be honest, because for the last few weeks the British press in particular have been warned off Thomas Markle, Meghan's father, told to leave him alone," Morgan points out.
"Now we discover that the reason for this is he's been colluding with a paparazzi in Mexico and staging pictures and presumably making money from them. So, mortifying for the royal family, enraging for Meghan Markle."