Meghan Markle and Doria Ragland.Photo: Steve Parsons - Pool / Getty
Happy birthday,Doria Ragland!
Meghan Markle’s mom turned 65 on Thursday. The social worker and yoga instructor lives in Los Angeles, not far from the Montecito home where Meghan and Harry are raising their two children, 2-year-old sonArchie Harrisonand daughterLilibet Diana, who was born on June 4.
Meghan and Doria share a close relationship and have given glimpses of their bond throughout Meghan’s time in the public eye.
The Duchess of Sussex “definitelygets a lot of her strength from her mother,” a friend previously told PEOPLE.
Before Meghan began her romance withPrince Harry, the former actress brought her mom as her plus-one to the 2015 UN Women’s 20th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference of Women in Beijing held in New York City.
Meghan Markle and Doria Ragland.Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan via Getty
Meghan had her mom’s support at her royal wedding in May 2018,spending the night with her at the Cliveden House Hotelbeforehand thenriding together to Windsor Castlefor the big walk down the aisle.
Doria Ragland and Meghan Markle.OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
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She stood next toPrince Harryand watched proudly as Meghan gave anoff-the-cuff speechabout the project, her first as a member of the royal family. At one point, Doria and Harry exchanged a smile.
Doria Ragland, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.Ben Stansall - WPA Pool/Getty
Doria is also a hands-on grandmother — she traveled to the U.K. in May 2019 when Meghan gave birth to Archie, staying with the couple at Frogmore Cottage to assist them during their early days as parents.
Shortly after Meghan and Harry introduced their son to the world, they shared an image of Archie meeting his great-grandparents,Queen ElizabethandPrince Philip. Doria also made an appearance in thehistoric photo.
Doria also served as the Sussex family’s photographer for their2020 Christmas card, an illustration of a picture featuring Meghan,Prince Harry, Archie and their family dogs playing outside.
Doria’s birthday comes nearly one month after Meghan turned 40 and launched her40x40 initiativeto support women going back to work, and Doria’s son-in-lawPrince Harrywill turn 37 on September 15.
source: people.com
