On Thursday, Dec. 11, Queen Camilla hosted a Christmas event for children at Clarence House, the couple’s primary home in the capital. Images from the gathering revealed a table of family photos arranged behind the festivities.
Among them was a portrait from Prince Louis’ 2018 christening, featuring Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, as well as Meghan and Prince Harry.
Beside it stood another framed image capturing a particularly meaningful moment between Charles, now 77, and Meghan, now 44, from her 2018 royal wedding.
The black-and-white photo shows the future king linking arms with his new daughter-in-law inside St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. Although Meghan entered the chapel alone, she walked the second half of the aisle arm-in-arm with Charles before reaching Prince Harry. When they approached the groom, Harry smiled warmly and said, “Thank you, Pa.”
Charles Stepped In at the Last Moment
This moment only happened due to a significant change in plans. Charles walked Meghan down the aisle after it was confirmed that her father, Thomas Markle, would not be able to attend the ceremony.
He agreed to step in less than 48 hours before the wedding.
“It was Meghan’s wish, and she is grateful for the Prince of Wales to be doing it,” a royal insider told PEOPLE at the time.
Prince Harry, 41, later recalled in the documentary Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70 how he asked his father to take on the role. “I asked him to, and I think he knew it was coming, and he immediately said, ‘Yes, of course, I’ll do whatever Meghan needs, and I’m here to support you,’ ” the Duke of Sussex said.
Complications Surrounding Thomas Markle
In the weeks leading up to the wedding, uncertainties swirled around Thomas Markle’s attendance. Although health issues were cited as the official reason, Thomas also stated at one point that he planned to stay away to avoid causing embarrassment to the royal family or his daughter, especially after it was revealed that he had cooperated with paparazzi to stage photographs.
Renewed Contact Amid Ongoing Tensions
Despite Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down from royal duties in 2020 and the ongoing rift with the family, Harry met with his father in September—their first meeting in 19 months.
Sources close to the Duke of Sussex told PEOPLE that King Charles had not been taking Harry’s calls, leaving messages unanswered. Still, Harry has made clear he wishes to repair the relationship, telling BBC News in May that he would welcome a “reconciliation.”
The rediscovered wedding photo inside Clarence House surfaced shortly after Thomas Markle, now 81, made headlines again when he underwent a leg amputation after a blood clot reportedly cut off circulation. Though Meghan and her father have been estranged for years, a representative for the Duchess of Sussex confirmed on Dec. 10 that she managed to send him a letter at his hospital in the Philippines.
“With the support of reliable and trusted contacts, her correspondence is now safely in his hands,” the spokesman shared.
Meghan previously discussed her broken relationship with her father during her and Prince Harry’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, saying she believed the damage was irreversible. “I’ve lost my father,” she said at the time.
