Harry, 34, approached Prince Charles, who celebrates his 70th birthday next week, to step in after Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle, was unable to come to the Windsor Castle nuptials.
In the documentary, Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70, which airs on BBC One on Thursday, Harry says: “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.’ “
“For him that’s a fantastic opportunity to step up and be that support, and you know he’s our father so of course he’s gonna be there for us.”
As Charles led Meghan to Harry’s side during the historic ceremony at St. George’s Chapel, the prince turned to his dad and said, “Thank you, Pa.”
Charles’ wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, couldn’t see what was said between son and his father at the altar, but says she watched it later on TV.
“I think that was very touching, sitting where I was, you couldn’t hear what he said. But afterwards watching it on the television, I… I think it was a very… it was a lovely gesture,” she says.
Of the emotional moment, Harry adds: “You’ve gotta say thank you. Just because he’s my father that doesn’t mean I can just sort of go, ‘Okay, that’s all, I’ll take it from here.’ ”
Then he quips, “Err, no, that is what I wanted to say but erm…and I was very grateful for him to be able to do that.”
This article was first published by People magazine.
