Prince Charles will replace Meghan Markle's dad at the royal wedding and walk her down the aisle

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Meghan Markle in Northern Ireland in March 2018.

Meghan Markle has asked Prince Charles to replace her father at the royal wedding by walking her down the aisle.

Kensington Palace announced the change in a statement on Friday morning, just over 24 hours before the ceremony. Charles is Prince Harry's father, and will become Meghan's father-in-law once they are married.

It came the day after Markle announced that her father, Thomas Markle, would not be attending the wedding at all following a paparazzi photo scandal, and emergency heart surgery.

Friday's statement said: "Ms Meghan Markle has asked His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to accompany her down the aisle of the Quire of St George's Chapel on her Wedding Day.

REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett

Prince Charles.

"The Prince of Wales is pleased to be able to welcome Ms. Markle to The Royal Family in this way."

This is not the first time Prince Charles, the father of two sons, has escorted a bride down the aisle.

In 2016, he gave away Alexandra Knatchbull, the daughter of his close friends Lord and Lady Brabourne, and goddaughter of the late Princess Diana, at her wedding to Thomas Hooper.

More follows.