This morning, His Royal Highness Prince Harry of Wales and Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex have touched down at Sydney Airport and will embark on their first official royal tour as husband and wife tomorrow.
As the excitement continues to mount, so too does speculation on whether the couple will be accompanied on their 15-day royal tour of Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji by Meghan Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland.
Harry and Meghan are heading to Australia this week as part of a 15-day Royal tour. (Image: Getty Images)
Having her mum by her side will ensure Meghan has all the emotional support she needs during what will surely be an exciting and nerve-wracking first for the new Duchess, particularly if the rumours are true that Meghan is in the early stages of pregnancy.
“Doria relishes any opportunity to spend time with her daughter, and if it’s true that Meghan is pregnant, she would absolutely want her mum by her side,” a source close to the royal couple told Woman’s Day.
“There’s plenty of room at their Aussie mansion for her, and Harry loves having Doria around. She’s the type of mother figure he craved after losing his own mum.”
It wouldn’t be the first time Doria showed up to delight fans at an official event – she was a surprise guest last month in London when Meghan launched a charity cookbook called Together, which includes a foreword written by the Duchess herself.
Meghan’s adoration for Doria is obvious and the mother and daughter continue to share a very close bond. Throughout her life and indeed her whirlwind romance with Prince Harry, her 61-year-old mum has been an incredible pillar of strength, stability and support to Meghan.
Speaking about her mum, Meghan has described Doria as a free-spirited role model.
“For me to watch this level of lifelong sensitivity to nurturing and caregiving, but at the same time my mum has always been a free spirit.”
“She’s got dreadlocks and a nose ring. She just ran the LA Marathon. We can just have so much fun together, and yet, I’ll still find so much solace in her support,” Meghan has previously beamed.
Making the 14-hour journey from her home in LA to Sydney would be effortless for Meghan’s 62-year-old “free-spirited traveller” mother.
“My mum was a travel agent, so off- the-beaten-path travel has always been a big part of my life,” Meghan has said.
The same can’t be said for the rest of the Markle family, especially Meghan’s father Thomas and half-sister, Samantha who continue to embarrass the royal family and cause unwanted scandal with their antics.
“Royal officials have met and discussed how to deal with him complaining that she has cut him off. They know it is a problem,” one insider has shared.
“Meghan loves Thomas and does want to maintain a relationship with him in the long run. But at the moment she feels he needs a bit of space. She also wants to take a bit of time out.”
“She is adjusting to married life and her new role in the spotlight. Meghan is hopeful that things will get better but it will take time. There is no quick fix.”
But with her mother’s unwavering and ongoing support, we’re confident Meghan will continue to excel in her new role as Duchess.
Meghan Markle’s dad, Thomas, has spoken candidly about his relationship with his daughter to the media.
The royal couple is scheduled to arrive in Australia tomorrow to embark on a jam-packed, week-long itinerary that will include engagements and activities in Sydney and the Invictus Games, Dubbo, Melbourne and Queensland’s Fraser Island. You can view their full Aussie itinerary here.
While nothing has been confirmed by the Palace, we live in hope that Doria will indeed be making this journey alongside her daughter and royal son-in-law; we’d welcome her to Australia with open arms.
Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland, share a very close bond.
