Thomas Markle 'made up' heart surgery for sympathy, source claims

The saga of Thomas Markle and the Royal Wedding continues, with a source now claiming Meghan’s father fabricated his heart surgery to save face after his staged paparazzi photos.

Markle, 74, pulled out of his daughter’s May 19 wedding to Prince Harry just days before the event, telling media he was undergoing treatment after a heart attack.

However, the Daily Mail reports the health issues were "made up" to divert focus and generate sympathy after it emerged he’d struck a deal with paparazzi ahead of the wedding.

RELATED: How the Thomas Markle Royal Wedding controversy unfolded

The images, published by several global news outlets, depicted the former Hollywood lighting director in the throes of preparing for his daughter’s wedding.

One showed him being fitted for a suit, while in another he was seen reading up on his daughter’s engagement online in an internet cafe.

WATCH: Thomas Markle's first-ever televised interview. (Post continues.)