Meghan Markle has been warned by her mother that she may be doomed to "more misery" back in Britain, according to a former royal aide. Doria Ragland, who celebrated her 70th birthday alone last month just days after Meghan and Prince Harry flew back to the UK, fears her daughter faces heightened hostility from the public and media as well as the Royal Family, it is claimed.
Mother's warning echoes Harry's court statement
Ex-social worker Doria's stark warning to the Duchess of Sussex echoed those of Harry in January when he told the High Court in London his wife's life had been made "absolute misery" by news outlets. Meghan's "mom" voiced her own anxieties before the royals flew back to Britain with their children after six years in self-imposed exile, according to American writer Rob Shuter, who is Princess Michael of Kent's former US publicist.
He said Doria, who Facetimes with Meghan on their iPhones almost every day, is deeply concerned as a "fiercely protective mother" that history will repeat itself and re-open wounds that have not healed. He added: "There hasn't been a falling out, with mother and daughter still extremely close. But Doria decided she couldn't stay silent after her daughter and Harry told her they were planning to go back to Britain so Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet could attend school there."
Concerns over Meghan's wellbeing
In the couple's bombshell TV interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, Meghan made the stunning claim that, while still a working member of the Royal Family, she experienced "severe mental health struggles" and "just didn't want to be alive anymore" while appeals for help were brushed aside by senior royals. A senior Hollywood executive source told the Sunday Express the former Suits actress "sparked genuine fears" for her wellbeing among those closest to her, adding: "She seemed to have been in a very dark place and it's clear to me that her mom is worried about her landing back there."
The Duchess of Sussex once more faced public humiliation last week in a UK interview in The Times with billionaire Tinseltown tycoon Ari Emanuel, who owns the WME talent agency that still represents her as well as her and Harry's production company Archewell. Asked where he feels Meghan's career is heading, the 65-year-old power broker bluntly shot back: "Here's the great thing: I don't have to think about that anymore."
Career setbacks and family ties
Our senior studio source said: "Meghan is still repped by WME but Ari has refused to talk to her for more than a year and two of his senior executives now handle any enquiries from or about her." A similar "downgrade" happened at streaming giant Netflix last year when her and Harry's initial $100million (£75.7m) five-year contract was not renewed but replaced with a "first look" agreement between the studio and Archewell.
Meghan is, however, expected to be able to focus on both Archewell and As Ever projects later this month in a flying visit from the Cotswolds back to her and Harry's £11m California mansion in Montecito. Since their departure, Doria – who helped look after Archie and Lilibet as well helping to manage household staff – has returned to her own home – a modest, two-bedroom bungalow in the Windsor Hills area of Los Angeles where she was photographed on her birthday last month pulling weeds and tending to her garden.
As well as mother and daughter reuniting in Montecito, Doria could become Meghan's "plus one" guest at this year's Daytime Emmy Awards at LA's Palladium Theatre on October 30. The Duchess is a first-time nominee among five in the Outstanding Lifestyle Series category for her ill-fated Netflix show With Love, Meghan, which was cancelled after just two seasons this year. Ironically, her estranged father and Doria's ex-husband Thomas Markle, a retired TV lighting editor, won two Daytime Emmys – in 1982 and 2011. And if Meghan does land her first major Hollywood award they would become only the second father and daughter to both win the prize in the ceremony's 53-year history.
Although Mr Markle will not be there to cheer on his daughter, her mother might be there to share family pride. However, our senior production source said: "She's more likely to view it as a welcome respite from the stress Meghan is under and her own fears for the wellbeing of her daughter."
