Look at Meghan Markle's Life.
BERMAN: All right, new this morning, it is now official, Meghan Markle's father will not walk his daughter down the aisle this weekend. He is recovering from heart surgery. Meghan Markle released this statement. Quote, sadly my father will not be attending our wedding. I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health.</s>HARLOW: In the meantime, wedding preparations are in full swing. Take a look at some of this, the military rehearsing for the procession down what's called the long walk. Our national correspondent Jason Carroll has more on Meghan Markle's story.</s>JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Meghan Markle's life began here in Los Angeles. It's the city where she was born. Her mother, Doria, a social worker, is African-American, and her father, Thomas, an Emmy Award winning lighting director is white.</s>CARROLL (on camera): Even at an early age, while growing up in Los Angeles, Markle started showing early signs of speaking up about issues that would later help define her as an adult, namely her biracial identity and gender equality.</s>MEGHAN MARKLE: I don't think it's right for kids to grow up thinking these things that just mom does everything.</s>CARROLL (voice over): Markle was offended by an Ivory dish washing detergent commercial because it focused on women doing housework.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Women are fighting greasy pots and pans.</s>MARKLE: And I said, wait a minute, how could somebody say that?</s>CARROLL: So, the then 11-year-old Markle wrote to Procter & Gamble.</s>MARKLE: So I was wondering if you would be able to change your commercial to people all over America.</s>MARKLE: Her letter worked. Procter & Gamble changed their commercial. Around that same year, Markle took a stand on her racial background. She told "Elle" magazine that while in class she was asked to check a box for the census, Caucasian or black. She wrote, my teacher told me to check the box for Caucasian because that's how you look, Meghan. Markle refused. Her father later telling her to draw her own box.</s>CARROLL (on camera): Markle's parents eventually enrolled her at Immaculate Heart. It's a private all girl middle school and high school. And some of her teachers here still have fond memories of her. MARIA POLIA (ph),</s>MARKLE'S FORMER TEACHER: My first thought actually was, he is so lucky.</s>CARROLL (voice over): Maria Polia was Markle's theology teacher. She talked about Markle wanting to volunteer at a soup kitchen in downtown L.A.'s skid row and the advice she offered to help Markle overcome her fear of volunteering in a dangerous neighborhood.</s>POLIA: You need to simply put the needs of others above your own fears. And Meghan says that she's remembered that conversation ever since.</s>CARROLL: Markle ended up volunteering on skid row for years. She also performed in school plays. This rare footage is from her sophomore year solo as Little Red Riding Hood in the production of "Into the Woods." Markle went on to Northwestern University, where she continued her love of drama. She double majored in theater and international studies. But acting was her passion. And once back in Los Angeles, she landed minor guest roles in shows like "</s>CSI: New York" before being cast as a regular on the USA drama "Suits" in 2011.</s>MARKLE: I don't care who knows.</s>CARROLL: Shortly after the show's launch, she married long-time boyfriend, film producer Trevor Engelson. They divorced less than two years later. In 2016, a mutual friend of Markle's and Prince Harry set them up on a blind date.</s>PRINCE HARRY: We met once and then twice, back-to-back, two dates in London. It was, I think, about three, maybe four weeks later that I managed to persuade her to come and join me in Botswana.</s>CARROLL: The two bonded while camping in Botswana. And after about a year and a half of courtship, came the proposal.</s>MARKLE: It was so sweet and natural and very romantic. He got on one knee.</s>PRINCE HARRY: Of course.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was an instant yes from you?</s>MARKLE: Yes. As a matter of fact, I could barely let you finish proposing. I was like, can I say yes now?</s>PRINCE HARRY: Yes,</s>CARROLL: Markle has since become a household name, a fashion icon. Style watchers closely eyeing every look. Not all has been well. English far right tabloids have attacked the 36-year-old because she is American, divorced, and biracial. Prince Harry and the palace have defended Markle and called for an end to the public abuse of her and her family. Markle has won the hearts of millions, including the heart of the one that matters most.</s>BERMAN: Our thanks to Jason Carroll for that. And this video just in. Dramatic, new pictures of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry arriving at Windsor Castle right now. You can see the cars moving. I would say at a brisk pace. An appropriate pace. I would say appropriate pace.</s>HARLOW: Thank you for your analysis of this, John Berman. It's a great play by play.</s>BERMAN: Well, no, I just want to make it seem as important as it is.</s>HARLOW: I just --</s>BERMAN: They're -- they're arriving at Windsor Castle. And here's a rear view.</s>HARLOW: I'm very excited for them. And I wish people could just let -- you know, stop focusing on the drama and start focusing on the big day that is ahead, that we will cover around the clock, you can bet. The royal wedding coverage starts 4:00 a.m. Eastern on Saturday. So get up early.</s>BERMAN: Congratulations to them in advance.</s>HARLOW: Meantime, the president is slamming the Russia probe today on its one year anniversary. The president mocking it, writing, congratulations, America, while reiterating his usual phrases, witch hunt, no collusion, no obstruction. The latest and a new tweet from the president, next.