Thomas Markle has really lost Meghan now

Yesterday I wrote that I understood Meghan's father, that evening I received a message. Not from him, mind you (it's not Freek Vonk, I mean), but from our ever-observant Daniëlle. That he would have had a heart attack and therefore could not come to the wedding.

Heart attack because of the scandal? It was something else. He would (‘would’ is really the most used word of the past few days) have had a heart attack about six days ago, and left the hospital earlier because he wanted to attend his daughter's wedding. Now it turns out shame is the reason for his absence.

Shame for what he has done. Then and then, there and there. Semi-spontaneous, but in the meantime completely arranged with the photographer in question. Then you at least know that your hair is combed and your fly is closed and you can hold in your stomach for a moment. Then it's done and you're done with it. In the case of father Markle, a few coins may have been slipped to him as well. There are even whispers about a number with five zeros.

Because walls have ears as the Chinese say, this ‘arrangement’ came to light. Of course just before the wedding. Poor father Markle. Poor Meghan. What will those evenings be like in Nottingham Cottage, where the couple still lives? Will they be summoned for an audience with Her Majesty The Queen? Is a crisis plan being devised? Will Charles give Meghan an encouraging wink? Will Meghan not be able to swallow a bite and will her dress be too loose? Will Queen Máxima send her a message because she knows what it's like to marry without your father? How do those things go?

And do I have a pitch-black mind when the suspicion creeps in that it has been a set-up by the old queen? They don't want him at the wedding and so they lure him into a trap. That the revelation happens so close to the wedding is, to say the least, very coincidental. Or not?

What I do know is that we will all be sitting in front of the TV on Saturday. Who gives her away? And will her tear be just as historic a moment as Máxima's? In the meantime, I think of father Meghan. He would give her away, but now I fear he has really, really lost her.