Meghan Markle's mother Doria Ragland will not join Prince Harry and Meghan Markle when they move back to the United Kingdom, according to sources cited by TMZ. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to relocate to Britain by the end of August, with their children Archie and Lilibet enrolled in UK schools for the start of the school year in September.
Sussexes' Return to UK
The couple has spent six years in California since stepping back from royal duties in 2020. During that time, they have maintained a close relationship with Doria, who lives under two hours away from their Montecito home in a residential district outside Los Angeles. She is believed to stay with the Sussexes often, either in the family's main nine-bedroom house or in a separate two-bedroom guesthouse within the grounds.
Despite this close bond, sources told TMZ that Doria, 69, will remain in California, where she has a community of friends. The Mirror has contacted Harry and Meghan's spokesperson for comment.
Doria's Role in the Family
Doria has been a constant presence in the Sussexes' lives, adoring her grandchildren Archie and Lilibet. She also played an important role in 2022 when the late Queen Elizabeth passed away, helping to look after the children while the family was in the UK. The Sussexes had travelled to Manchester for a summit, then Dusseldorf for an Invictus event, and back to London, extending their stay after the Queen's death on September 8 to make public appearances, including greeting mourners outside Windsor Castle and attending the funeral in Westminster Abbey.
Doria, a social worker and yoga instructor, has generally avoided the spotlight since attending the royal wedding at Windsor Castle in May 2018, which she attended solo as her ex-husband and Meghan's father Thomas Markle did not attend. She has occasionally appeared in Meghan's Instagram posts, including photos and videos from family trips to Disneyland and a park visit for Mother's Day.
Harry's Bond with Doria
A source told the Mail On Sunday in 2020 that Harry 'in particular turns to Doria for advice' and she is 'like the Queen – she never complains and never explains'. They added: “She's laid-back, and people see her nose ring and dreadlocks which are cool - but make no mistake, she has a core of steel. Underestimate her at your peril. Meghan has always trusted her completely but she has become a rock to Harry who, of course, lost his own mother so young. Doria has a great warmth. She's a brilliant cook and is very motherly, but she isn't someone who seeks attention, and for Harry her discretion and silence mean the world.”
