But others reacting to Friday morning’s Twitter announcement from Kensington Palace were disappointed. That’s because they had hoped to see a more “modern” solution breaking out on a day that’s usually heavy with displays of royal pomp and traditions going back centuries.
The Plan B of Prince Charles taking such a front and center role at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, was necessitated by Thomas Markle pulling out of the wedding earlier this week. The reclusive 73-year-old former Hollywood lighting designer initially decided to pull out of the chance of giving his daughter away because he was caught up in a paparazzi controversy, but he ultimately had no choice but to not travel to England after he suffered a health emergency that required heart surgery.
Many fans, media outlets and even oddsmakers were expecting to see Doria Ragland step into the traditional father-of-the-bride job. After all, the 61-year-old social worker and yoga instructor from Los Angeles raised Meghan as a single mom after she and Thomas Markle divorced when Meghan was 6.
Many loved the potential symbolism of watching an African-American woman and mother granted such an honored position at a British royal event and on the global stage.
No, it should of been her Mum to do it. She brought her up and she should do it. In general I think the mother's should do it anyway, after all in most situations the mother does everything for their child over the father. (In my experiences)
— Aimee Dey
