Markle’s dad too ill for wedding; mom has tea with royals

Markle’s dad too ill for wedding; mom has tea with royals

WINDSOR, England

Ending days of speculation, Meghan Markle said Thursday her father will not be able to attend her wedding to Prince Harry due to health problems. The news came as British military personnel rehearsed for a gala procession through Windsor that will follow Saturday’s ceremony, which will be televised live around the world.

“Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding,” Markle said.

Thomas Markle had been scheduled to walk his daughter down the aisle when she weds her prince Saturday in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

No replacement for him has been officially named but it’s possible that Doria Ragland, the bride’s mother, could fill that role.

Ragland met Harry’s brother, Prince William, and his wife, Kate, and their two oldest children, Prince George, 4, and Princess Charlotte, 3, at Windsor Castle on Thursday. Palace officials said Harry and Meghan Markle were also present, and that the meeting was followed by a rehearsal dinner.

Ragland also had tea with Harry’s father, Prince Charles, and his wife, Camilla, the day before. She will meet Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, for tea today at Windsor Castle, the palace said.

Backstreet Boys have new single, new video

LOS ANGELES

The Backstreet Boys have a new single.

They released “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” on Thursday, along with a video that shows the quintet dancing in sync. Singer Nick Carter tweeted thanks to fans for 25 years of support.

Carter, Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson, A.J. McLean and Howie Dorough will resume a 21-show Las Vegas residency in July.

911 call: Guard felt ‘threatened’ before rapper T.I.’s arrest

ATLANTA

A security guard said he felt threatened during an argument with the rapper T.I. that led to the Grammy-winning hip-hop artist’s arrest outside his gated community near Atlanta.

In a 10-minute phone call, the guard at Eagles Landing Country Club told a 911 dispatcher early Wednesday that a resident kept asking for his name and knocking on the guard shack door. The security guard acknowledged during the call he didn’t recognize the resident, who was identified as Clifford Harris, better known as T.I.

T.I. had lost his key and the guard initially wouldn’t let him into the neighborhood, said Henry County Deputy Police Chief Mike Ireland. The rapper was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and simple assault and then released on bail.

Associated Press