Meghan Markle shares an incredibly close bond with her mother, Doria Ragland, who has stood by her side through life’s ups and downs. The 68-year-old social worker even lived with Meghan and Prince Harry at Frogmore Cottage for over a month after they welcomed their son, Prince Archie.
Among the many things Doria has passed down to Meghan is her love of food. This was reflected in the thoughtful Christmas gift she gave to Meghan and Harry, as revealed in episode six of With Love, Meghan, the Duchess’ Netflix series.
While preparing dehydrated citrus fruits for her margaritas, Meghan shared that Doria had gifted them a food dehydrator for Christmas—an ideal addition to their home, which boasts an abundance of fruit trees. “My home also has a lot of fruit trees,” she explained. “We share it with friends and donate to a local food bank.”
Doria also made an appearance in the series finale, joining Meghan’s Garden party. Dressed in a sleeveless caramel knit vest and loose leopard-print pants, she radiated warmth as she admired her daughter’s brunch spread. “Are the greens from the garden?” she asked, to which Meghan proudly confirmed, “Yes, greens are from the garden.” Doria responded with a smile, “It’s lovely. Nice job!”
Meghan has often spoken about how her mother’s cooking influenced her upbringing, despite their frequent moves. “I have a very, very high tolerance for spicy food, and I love it,” she shared on the show. “Even at a young age, we didn’t have a lot, but we traveled. My mom was a travel agent, so we experienced so many different flavors in so many places.”
Reflecting on Doria’s cooking, she added: “My mom would make gumbo, and soul food has a lot of flavor and kick to it. I crave that, and I always gravitate to that level of heat. So I’m introducing my family to my palate—but I love it.”
Meghan has never shied away from expressing her admiration for her mother. In 2014, she penned a heartfelt tribute on The Tig, her now-defunct blog. “She was keeping me safe. She was teaching me to take care of my body. She was introducing me to history and fostering a love of being outdoors,” Meghan wrote.
“She was planting the seed for me to become a foodie. She was showing me how to be a daughter—not just in that moment, but for when I became that grown woman. For right now. And 30 years from now. She was loving me. So tightly.”
Doria and Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle, separated when Meghan was two, finalizing their divorce in 1987. Thomas, who previously had two children, Samantha and Thomas Jr., from his first marriage, was unable to attend Meghan’s 2018 wedding due to health issues, leaving Prince Charles to walk her down the aisle instead.
