But on the weekend the Mail on Sunday published CCTV footage that it said showed he had “secretly collaborated with a British paparazzi photographer” to stage a series of photos sold to newspapers around the world.

The photos had portrayed him looking up online stories about his daughter in an internet cafe in Mexico,apparently unaware he was being photographed.

They were published in many newspapers including theMail Online andThe Sun,and it is estimated they would have raked in around $US100,000 ($132,000) for the photo agency.

The CCTV footage showed Thomas Markle arriving at the cafe with the photographer and staging the photographs.

TheMoS claimed other photos the same photographer took of Markle had also been staged,including his being measured for a wedding suit,browsing a book of British landmarks and working out with weights.

It is common for paparazzi to take apparently candid shots with the co-operation of their subjects – and this is common knowledge in tabloid newspapers.

But the paper claimed this revelation would cause “huge embarrassment to the royal family” because of Harry’s troubled history with the paparazzi.

Royal watchers are already speculating that Meghan's mother will step in and walk her down the aisle instead - she had been due to spend the night before the wedding with her and travel with her to Windsor Castle. Other options include the couple abandoning tradition and walking in together,or Prince Charles stepping in to do the honours,or Meghan could make a feminist statement by walking in unaccompanied.

TMZ said Mr Markle told them the paparazzi agency approached him and offered him money – though less than the reported $US100,000 – and he “figured there was no harm in it and it would help recast his image”.

In prior photographs he has been portrayed buying beer and looking dishevelled.

Thomas Markle told TMZ the new photos looked “stupid and hammy” and he “deeply regrets” going along with the plan.

Meghan’s half-sister Samantha Markle – who reportedly was not invited to the wedding - said on her private Twitter account that the bad press over her father doing staged photos “is my fault”.

“The media was unfairly making him look bad so I suggested he do positive photos for his benefit and the benefit of the royal family,” she said.

“We had no idea he would be taken advantage of. It was not for money.”

Samantha Markle told ITV she didn’t believe he had been paid “and if he was it was a pittance” though “I can understand it’s awkward for Kensington Palace”.

Her older brother Thomas Markle Jr toldThe Mirror his father was embarrassed and would likely apologise to the royal family.

But theUK Telegraph reported Kensington Palace had offered Mr Markle support and would “continue to make interventions with the media out of concern for his safety and security” due to the number of photographers chasing him for a picture and interview.

On Monday the Palace reported Harry and Meghan would stay at separate hotels in the Windsor area the night before their wedding – Harry with his best man,Prince William,and Meghan with her mother.

There was no mention of plans for Meghan’s father.