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First it was a book of British things. Then it was a suit-fitting on the streets of Mexico.
The final straw was an internet cafe, some not-so-subtle scrolling and large photos Meghan and Harry illuminated on the screen he was peering at.
Yes, Thomas Markle was readying himself for the royal wedding, and there were paparazzi photos to prove it.
The media was being intrusive, he said. In the hours before photos of him in that internet cafe surfaced across the world, News Corp reports representatives of Mr Markle wrote to editors around the world and Britain’s Independent Press Standards Organisation requesting privacy from the incessant intrusions.
The problem, of course, was that media intrusion was self-inflicted, if not actively encouraged. On Sunday, British media reported the pictures were staged by Mr Markle himself, with a little help from LA-based photographer Jeff Rayner. It’s reported he banked more than $180,000.
The headlines were quick, many of them scathing:
Meghan Markle’s Dad Staged All Those Adorable Photos and Made Some Major Bank
Meghan Markle’s Dad Under Fire for ‘Staged Photos’ Ahead of Royal Wedding
Royal Wedding scammers! Meghan Markle’s father STAGED photos with paparazzi that were shared around the world