Meghan Markle’s mother will not join her to the UK with Prince Harry

Meghan Markle's mother will reportedly stay in California when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex return to Britain with their two children later this month. The 69-year-old social worker Doria Ragland is said to have no plans to uproot her life on the West Coast, where she has an established circle of friends and is involved in the local yoga community.

Sources told the American tabloid TMZ that Doria is not expected to join Meghan and Prince Harry for their move across the Atlantic, instead choosing to remain close to the family's Californian base. However, she is expected to continue spending time with Meghan, Harry and her grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, although it is not yet clear how those arrangements will work once the family is based in Britain.

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It comes as Harry and Meghan prepare for what is expected to be their first extended period living in Britain since they stepped back from royal duties and moved to North America in 2020.

The couple are expected to relocate with Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, who are due to begin school in Britain in September. Reports suggest the Sussexes will live in a private, non-royal property rather than a royal residence.

Doria has remained one of the closest members of Meghan's family throughout the Sussexes' relationship and life in California. She travelled to Britain for Archie's birth in 2019 and also helped Meghan when Lilibet was born in 2021.

She has regularly appeared alongside the couple at family events over the years.

Meghan's longtime friend and makeup artist Daniel Martin told People in 2019 that Ragland is an inspiration to the Duchess of Sussex.

"Meghan draws a lot of strength from her mother," Martin said.

Meghan, however, has been estranged from her father, Thomas Markle, 81, for years, dating back to at least 2018 when he didn't walk her down the aisle at her wedding to Harry.

It's unclear whether Harry and Meghan are staying in England for a year or more, with an insider also telling TMZ they are taking it day by day.