Prince Charles will walk Meghan Markle down the aisle at Saturday's royal wedding after her father pulled out of the event citing health problems.
In an announcement on Friday morning, Kensington Palace said Charles had been asked by Markle, with the future king accepting the invitation. "The Prince of Wales is pleased to be able to welcome Ms Markle to the Royal Family in this way," it said.
An update on the #RoyalWedding:
The announcement also referred to the fact Prince Charles would walk Markle "down the aisle of the Quire of St George's Chapel", leading to speculation from royal reporters the bride would walk the first part of the aisle by herself.
A handy plan of the layout of St George’s for those who want ALL the detail. The gigantic rood screen separates the Nave from the Quire and is actually quite difficult for any guests sitting in the nave to peer through up to the altar. https://t.co/vStQ3nnsDl
It comes just a day after the bride-to-be confirmed Thomas Markle would not be attending the wedding in Windsor on Saturday, saying her 73-year-old father needed to "focus on his health".
Thomas Markle had been at the centre of a week-long drama around whether he'd attend after being exposed by the Mail on Sunday for setting up staged paparazzi photos in the lead-up to the wedding.
Buckingham Palace also announced on Friday that the Queen's husband, Prince Philip, would be attending the wedding despite the 96-year-old withdrawing from official duties earlier this year.