Meghan Markle’s 4-Word Response to Charles Walking Her Down the Aisle Left Him Stunned: 'Can We...'

Meghan Markle's lavish 2018 wedding to Prince Harry captivated millions around the world. Royal watchers quickly picked up on a notable break from tradition when then-Prince Charles walked Markle down the aisle. According to royal author Robert Hardman, Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle, had pulled out at the last minute. He also revealed Meghan’s bold four-word response when the King offered to take his place.

Hardman said that Markle’s reply was ‘not quite what Charles was expecting.’ In his book Queen of Our Times: The Life of Elizabeth II, he claimed that the Duchess was ‘determined to make a grand entrance on her own.’ As reported by the Daily Mail, the author explained, “Feeling for his future daughter-in-law, the Prince of Wales offered to step in, saying he would be honored to escort Meghan up the aisle of St. George’s Chapel to the altar. The reply, according to one friend, was not quite what he was expecting: ‘Can we meet halfway?” Hardman opined, “Here was an indicator that this was no blushing bride, but a confident, independent woman determined to make a grand entrance on her own.”

Hardman's book also revealed the family drama surrounding the royal wedding. He revealed that Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, was the only family member in attendance and “the dynamics of her [Meghan’s] family certainly eclipsed the usual criticisms about the royal family being dysfunctional.” Thomas had bailed out of the wedding due to an ‘urgent heart surgery’ following a heart attack. He told TMZ he was scheduled for heart surgery at 7:30 am, US time. However, the British press widely reported that he missed the wedding because he was uninvited, following repeated public insults at his daughter.

Meghan later spoke highly of Charles on her Netflix docuseries. As per Cosmopolitan, she said on Harry and Meghan, “And I said to him, like, 'I've lost my dad in this.' So he, as my father-in-law, was really important to me. So I asked him to walk me down the aisle, and he said yes…It was at that moment that I could see H.” Harry chiming in, added, “My father helped us choose an orchestra, which made all the difference.”

Even the King was said to be ‘terribly touched’ when his younger daughter-in-law asked him to walk her down the aisle. This reportedly brought them 'close’ in the beginning. As per the Daily Mail, Charles proudly told his friends, “She is so intelligent and so nice. She makes Harry happy. We could not like her more.” He had also christened Meghan with the nickname ‘Tungsten’ as she was strong and resilient, just like the metal. The pair today are, however, not on talking terms after the Sussexes dropped bombshells after their royal exit.