Mum to Meghan Markle and friend to the stars: As she turns 68, how Doria Ragland rubs shoulders with top celebs – and is a ‘rock’ for her daughter and son-in-law Prince Harry

She is often seen with her daughter Meghan Markle and son-in-law Prince Harry.

Though earlier this year Doria Ragland, who turns 68 today, posed with another well-known and influential woman – Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles.

Doria had attended a star-studded event hosted by Meghan and Harry in Los Angeles.

She wore a classic cream cardigan as she stood with her arm around Tina who looked glamorous in a fitted black blazer and chunky belt.

This isn’t the first time Doria has rubbed shoulders with celebrities. She was also pictured with power-mother Kris Jenner and her A-list daughter Kim Kardashian at a charity event last year.

Doria wore a vibrant, paisley shift dress in stunning yellow, orange and pink shades to attend the This Is About Humanity’s fifth annual soiree.

+12
View gallery

Doria Ragland, 68 today, posing with Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles at an event in honour of the The Kinsey African American Art and History Collection earlier this year

+12
View gallery

Doria last year with power-mother Kris Jenner and her A-list daughter Kim Kardashian at a charity event

+12
View gallery

The mother-of-one with Prince Harry and Meghan at the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards in 2023

The yoga teacher shares a close relationship with her daughter and reportedly has a granny flat at the couple’s home in Montecito.

Doria even stayed with the couple at Frogmore cottage for more than a month when her grandson Archie was born, Harry’s book Spare revealed.

She was also described as a ‘rock’ for Meghan and Harry during the difficult months when they departed as working royals and moved to California.

A former confidant of Doria told the Mail on Sunday: ‘She is like the Queen – she never complains and never explains.’

This became apparent when she was the only member of Meghan’s family to attend her daughter’s wedding in May 2018 and remained silent on any family tension – even as other relatives did speak out.

+12
View gallery

Doria linking arms with King Charles at her daughter’s wedding in May 2018

+12
View gallery

Doria is close to the couple and even spent a month with them at Frogmore Cottage after the birth of her grandson Archie

+12
View gallery

The yoga teacher shares a close relationship with her daughter and reportedly has a granny flat at the couple’s home in Montecito

+12
View gallery

Doria and Meghan making their way by car to St George’s Chapel in May 2018

Meghan’s mother Doria joins Duchess and Harry at Palace in 2018

Born in Ohio on September 2, 1956 to Jeanette, a nurse, and Alvin, an antique dealer, Doria grew up in Los Angeles after her family moved there when she was still a baby.

Doria attended Fairfax High School in Hollywood during a time when racial tensions were high.

Her friend Jennifer Caldwell said: ‘She was part of an all-black group of students which would regularly protest.

‘She had this beautiful Afro hairstyle she was so proud of and she was always into fashion. She was always smiling, whip-smart and sociable.

‘Doria was very aware of her own identity and confident in her body and where she was going. She wanted to make something of her life.’

She met Meghan’s father when she was working as a secretary at ABC Studios – Thomas Markle was working as a lighting director at the time.

The pair married in 1979 in a Buddhist ceremony and had Meghan two years later.

+12
View gallery

Doria accompanying Meghan and Harry to an event marking the launch of a Grenfell Tower cookbook in September 2018

+12
View gallery

The mother of one met Meghan’s father when she was working as a secretary at ABC Studios

The Duchess once wrote about how her mother would take her out in a pushchair and be mistaken for a nanny because of the colour of her skin.

At one point, Thomas’s two children from his previous marriage joined the household and Doria took on the role of stepmother.

However, Doria and Thomas divorced after just two years. At 11 years old, Meghan moved in with her father but her parents remained friends and she spent her weekends with both of them.

A trained yoga teacher, Doria also has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California and previously had a dress-making business.

She is also a doting grandmother to Harry and Meghan’s children, Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.

A former confidant previously said: ‘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.

+12
View gallery

Prince Harry and Meghan on their wedding day looking back towards their family as Doria, Charles and Camilla leave the chapel

+12
View gallery

A doting grandmother to Archie and Lilibet, Doria is pictured smiling with Meghan as a child

‘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.’

In 2022, she spoke out about her daughter’s mental health struggles in Harry and Meghan’s Netflix docuseries.

She wiped tears away as she said it had been hard for her to hear that her daughter was suffering from low mental health while she lived in the UK.