GB News presenter Carole Malone has issued a formal, on-air apology to Doria Ragland after falsely claiming the mother of the Duchess of Sussex had spent time in prison. The baseless allegation was made during a live discussion about Meghan Markle's father, Thomas Markle, and his recent leg amputation.
On-Air Apology for False Allegation
During a broadcast on Monday, Malone read a statement retracting her earlier comments. She admitted she had been wrong to state that Thomas Markle raised Meghan alone while Doria Ragland was incarcerated. The presenter attributed the error to "misinformation I had seen online" and expressed regret for the pain caused.
"I accept what I have now been told on behalf of Miss Ragland that she raised her daughter, and that she has never been in prison or jail," Malone stated. "I apologise sincerely to Miss Ragland and her family for any pain my comments may have caused, and I am happy to set the record straight."
Origins of the False Claim and Backlash
The incident occurred twelve days prior, when Malone repeated an online conspiracy theory during a panel discussion. The debate centred on whether Meghan should show more compassion towards her father, Thomas Markle, 81, who is recovering in a Philippine hospital after a life-saving leg amputation.
When challenged by fellow panellists who expressed scepticism, Malone doubled down on the claim, asking "Do you want me to give you a precise date and time?" The segment prompted complaints to GB News and was widely shared on social media by supporters of the Duchess, including close family friend Misan Harriman.
Broader Context of the Markle Family Rift
The apology comes amid ongoing reports about the strained relationship between Meghan Markle and her father. The rift began in 2018 when Thomas Markle collaborated with paparazzi photographers ahead of the royal wedding, after which he suffered heart attacks and did not attend the ceremony.
He has never met his son-in-law, Prince Harry, or his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet. Recently, it was revealed that Meghan, who has not seen her father since 2018, sent a hand-delivered letter to his hospital bed after learning of his serious medical condition.
In an emotional interview from his hospital bed, Mr Markle expressed a desire for reconciliation, stating, "I don't want to die estranged from Meghan. I want to meet my grandkids." He faces a lengthy rehabilitation and hopes to be fitted with a prosthetic limb.
