Inside Meghan Markle’s relationship with her parents and why she 'didn’t live with her mother growing up'
Meghan's parents split when she was very youngMeghan Markle’s relationship with her parents has become something of a public spectacle in recent years. From not living with her mother for a part of her childhood to her public, albeit one-sided, fallout with her dad, it’s been far from easy.
The Duchess of Sussex found herself inside a courtroom over a letter she penned to her father following her royal wedding. It’s not something any other member of the royal family faced, nor members of the public.
However, over the years that have followed, her siblings and father have conducted countless interviews about their relationship with the royal – or lack thereof. Here’s an inside look at Meghan Markle’s relationship with her parents, Doria Ragland and Thomas Markle, and whey they stand now.
Who are Meghan Markle’s parents?
Meghan’s parents, Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland, were married for eight years between 1979 and 1987.
In 1981, they welcomed Meghan. The couple were together when the future royal was born but parted ways a few years later. They eventually divorced in 1987 when Meghan was six years old.
Thomas later said they broke up due to his work schedule and Doria wanting to move back to the city.
Read more: When Harry met Meghan – How a royal prince kept his romance ‘secret’
Why did Meghan Markle not live with her mother?
Between the ages of two and nine, Meghan primarily lived with her mother Doria after her split from Thomas. They lived together in an apartment in South Cloverdale Avenue, Mid-Wilshire. Thomas, meanwhile, had a place behind the Hollywood strip which Meghan would spend time at too.
Speaking about her mum on her podcast, Archetypes, Meghan said: “She took care of me and the house and herself. She was juggling so much.”
However, when Meghan was nine years old, she reportedly mostly lived with dad Thomas whilst Doria pursued her career.
According to reports, from the age of nine until she was 18, Meghan lived with her father Thomas.
Meghan Markle relationship with her father Thomas Markle
Growing up with her father saw Meghan sent to elite private schools. According to her half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, Meghan was the apple of her father’s eye.
“When Meggie was born, Dad was a completely changed man. Before then, Dad’s work took priority over everything, but she became his whole world,” he once told the Daily Mail.
“Meggie was a little princess long before she met Harry – she was her Daddy’s princess,” he also added.
Former lighting director Thomas Sr – who worked in Hollywood at the time – first sent Meghan to the private Hollywood Little Red Schoolhouse. Then, when she was older, she attended an exclusive all-girls Catholic school.
Meghan’s relationship with her dad seemed to be positive two years before she began dating Prince Harry.
In a post on her former blog, The Tig, she paid tribute to Thomas’ sacrifices for her on Father’s Day.
“The blood, sweat and tears this man (who came from so little in a small town in Pennsylvania) invested in my future so I could grow up to have so much,” she wrote.
“To my dad – my thoughtful, inspiring, hard-working Daddy – Happy Father’s Day.”
Meghan and Thomas’ relationship turns sour
However, around the time of her wedding to Harry, Meghan became estranged from her father.
Thomas has never met Prince Harry, despite Meghan having been with him since 2016 and married since 2018.
Thomas was meant to come to the wedding in 2018. However, he was forced to pull out at the last minute to undergo heart surgery. It was also revealed around the same time that he had organised paparazzi to take staged photos of him, which were then sold to media outlets around the world.
It was reported by the Mail On Sunday that the staged photos of Thomas picking out a wedding suit and reading news stories about Meghan and Harry were sold for approximately £100,000.
Meanwhile, Meghan’s mother Doria, 68, attended the duchess’ wedding – the only member of Meghan’s family to do so.
Thomas Markle begs for Meghan reconciliation
In the years since Meghan’s wedding, Thomas, 80, has appeared on TV and done numerous interviews both slamming his daughter and begging for her to reconcile with him.
Meghan’s half-sister, Samantha Markle, has also regularly done the rounds calling the duchess out.
To this day, Thomas has yet to meet his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Last month, Thomas gave an interview with the Mail On Sunday in which he admitted he’d “always love” his daughter.
“I wish her no ill-will. My dream is that one day I could bring my whole family together, like a normal family,” he said.
“There were good times. She was a good girl. I don’t like some of the things my daughter has done but I will always love her,” he then continued.
“My door is always open to her. I love her and that will never change. I love all my children.”
Meghan’s relationship with her mum Doria
Meanwhile, Meghan has continued to maintain a close relationship with her mother.
Doria even made appearances in the Sussexes’ controversial Netflix documentary, Harry & Meghan, back in 2022.
Who is Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex?
Meghan Markle was born on August 4, 1981, in California, United States. She is currently 43 years old. She had a career in acting before marrying into the royal family in 2018.
What did Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex do before joining the monarchy?
Former actress Meghan had a string of acting roles before she met Prince Harry, most famously playing the role of Rachel Zane in legal drama Suits.
Her acting career began at Northwestern University.
The duchess also wrote a lifestyle blog named The Tig and became heavily involved in charity work - which has continued since she met Harry.
Marrying Prince Harry
Meghan married into the royal family on May 19, 2018, when she and Prince Harry tied the knot at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Just a few months after their wedding, Meghan and Harry announced they were expecting their first child. They welcomed Prince Archie on May 6, 2019.
Two years later on June 4, 2021, the couple welcomed a daughter named Princess Lilibet. She was named after the late Queen Elizabeth II - whose nickname was Lilibet.
Months after welcoming son Archie, Prince Harry and Meghan announced they were stepping down from their senior royal roles within the royal family. They then moved to the United States and have lived there since.
Meghan has made a return to the entertainment world, launching projects with Netflix alongside Harry. In January 2025, she announced a lifestyle show named With Love, Meghan, which will see her giving cooking and gardening tips to viewers alongside a host of celebrity guests. It will premiere on March 4, 2025.
Pictures shown in the documentary showed that Doria’s bond with both her daughter and her son-in-law Harry is strong.
Meghan and Doria are regularly seen together out and about. It’s also reported that due to living in close proximity, Doria often comes and helps look after Archie and Lilibet.
Their relationship is a stark contrast to the non-existent one the duchess now has with her elderly father.
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