The build-up to the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a joyous affair, with the world being gripped by royal fever and a feeling of celebration and enjoyment. However, for all the positivity, it was slightly marred by the antics of Meghan's family who appeared hellbent on embarrassing the new dutchess of Sussex.
In the weeks building up to the ceremony, Megan's half-sister, Samantha Grant was appearing in the headlines regularly, with her continuously firing shots at her sibling. However, speaking about her decisions to speak out against her sister in the build-up to the wedding, Grant defended her right to speak out.
In an interview with TMZ, Samantha said: "[Meghan is] not going to tell me I can't speak about my life or my father's where it's a matter of public self-defense because the media is disparaging us,” she said. “I'm not going to take it, she's not qualified to suggest that I don't."
But it wasn't only Samantha who was causing shockwaves in the media. Meghan's father, Thomas, has also been a hotly discussed subject, with him admitting to posing for staged paparazzi photos that showed him looking up who the Royal Family were - something which he apologised for shortly afterwards.
It was then reported that Thomas couldn't attend the ceremony due to having surgery on a heart condition caused by the stress of the whole affair. What followed was a will-he-won't-he that lasted for days until Meghan confirmed that her father wouldn't be attending.
"Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding," she wrote in a statement, provided by Kensington Palace. "I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health."
She continued, "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."
The wedding went ahead without Thomas, with Prince Charles walking Meghan half-way down the aisle after she did the first half on her own - something which Thomas said that he was "honored and grateful" for. She tied the knot with Prince Harry in a beautiful ceremony in Windsor Castle in front of a star-studded line up of guests that included the likes of Serena Williams, Oprah, David Beckham and George and Amal Clooney.
Like the rest of us, Thomas Markle ended up watching the ceremony on his TV, with the father telling TMZ: "My baby looks beautiful and she looks very happy. I wish I were there and I wish them all my love and all happiness."
While the build-up to the wedding contained lots of controversy in the Markle family, it's nice to see Meghan's father simply wishing a message of good-will and compassion. Good luck to Harry and Meghan in their new life with one another.
