MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry tied the knot in a grand royal wedding watched by millions – but it was worlds apart from how her parents got married.
Doria Ragland and Thomas Markle got married in December 1979 after a whirlwind romance of six months.
Doria Ragland and Thomas Markle tied the knot after six months of dating
Doria and Meghan have a very close relationship
Meghan’s uncle, Joseph Johnson, told the Mail on Sunday how none of the family even knew Thomas existed until they received wedding invitations.
The couple, who are now divorced, met on the filming set of the soap opera General Hospital.
At the time, Doria was 23 and working as a make-up artist, while Thomas, who was 35, was a lighting director.
Despite their 12-year age gap, the pair hit it off and decided to marry just six months later.
Meghan, who is now 41, later told Elle: “It was the late Seventies when my parents met, my dad was a lighting director for a soap opera and my mom was a temp at the studio.
“I like to think he was drawn to her sweet eyes and her Afro, plus their shared love of antiques. Whatever it was, they married and had me.”
Thomas and Doria’s wedding venue was a far cry from the pomp at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, where Meghan and Harry tied the knot.
They got married at the Self-Realisation Fellowship Temple on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.
The faux-Indian temple, which was founded by Indian yogi Paramahansa Yogananda, is decorated with plastic Buddhas and stone elephants.
The bride and groom also opted for very unusual outfits, with Doria wearing a white shirt and skirt and white flowers in her hair, with Thomas in an orange shirt and grey tweed jacket.
They were married by Buddhist priest ‘Brother Bhaktananda’ who was clad in orange robes.
Just two years later in 1981, they welcomed their only child, Meghan.
This made Thomas a father-of-three, as he also had kids Samantha and Thomas Jr from his previous marriage to Rosalyn Markle from 1964 to 1975.
In her post-engagement interview, Meghan said her mum was “so much fun”, and Harry agreed, adding that Doria is “amazing”.
Meghan has previously described her mum as a “free spirit”.
She said: “She’s (Doria) got dreadlocks and a nose ring. She ran the LA Marathon. We can have so much fun together, and yet, I’ll still find so much solace in her support.”
Doria and Thomas ended their marriage when Meghan was six years old, and it hasn’t been all plain-sailing since.
As a teenager, Meghan told of her fractured relationship with her father in a candid home video.
Meghan confided in a pal about her difficult relationship with dad Thomas, saying: “We aren’t on the best of terms.”
The candid admission was caught on film as an 18-year-old Meghan and then best friend Ninaki Priddy filmed themselves driving around Los Angeles.
Thomas Markle Sr did not attend the Royal Wedding, although Doria was in attendance, with Kensington Palace releasing a statement from Meghan on May 17, 2018.
It read: “Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding.
“I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health.
“I would like to thank everyone who has offered generous messages of support.
“Please know how much Harry and I look forward to sharing our special day with you on Saturday.”
Thomas is said to have undergone heart surgery on May 16, 2018 – just three days before his daughter’s wedding.
In his absence, Prince Charles stepped in to escort Meghan from the nave to the altar when she married Prince Harry in St George’s Chapel.
Meghan chose to walk down the aisle by herself, being met halfway by Prince Charles, and Thomas told the US press that she “looked beautiful” when he watched the wedding.
He has since claimed his daughter “dumped him” after meeting Prince Harry.
Speaking to The Mail on Sunday, Thomas Markle said: “She didn’t “lose” me, she dumped me.
“I am not lost. She knows where to find me. My number hasn’t changed.
“I would love to hear from my daughter and meet my son-in-law and my grandkids for the first time.”
Meghan became estranged from her dad Thomas Markle after he leaked a letter to The Mail on Sunday. The letter saw Meghan beg him to stop speaking to reporters.
Doria came to the royal wedding, but Thomas remained in the US
