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Royal role model! Before starting a family of her own, Meghan Markle<\/strong><\/a> had her mother, Doria Ragland<\/strong><\/a>, to turn to for inspiration on a daily basis.<\/p>\n Ragland was married to Thomas Markle<\/strong><\/a> from 1979 to 1987, but despite the split, Meghan remained close to both of her parents<\/a> while growing up. \u201cI was too young at the time to know what it was like for my parents, but I can tell you what it was like for me,\u201d she wrote in an Elle<\/em><\/a> essay published in 2015, reflecting on her biracial identity. \u201cHow they crafted the world around me to make me feel like I wasn\u2019t different but special.\u201d<\/p>\n When Meghan rose to stardom on Suits<\/em> in the 2010s, her mom remained one of her fiercest supporters \u2014 and was the only family member by Meghan\u2019s side<\/a> at her May 2018 wedding to Prince Harry<\/strong><\/a> in England. (Thomas declared days before the ceremony that he would no longer be attending after suffering a heart attack and staging paparazzi photos<\/a> of himself.)<\/p>\n The royal family made an effort to welcome Doria with open arms, with the yoga instructor securing an invitation for tea with Queen Elizabeth II<\/strong><\/a> and the late Prince Philip<\/a> at Windsor Castle ahead of the Sussexes\u2019 nuptials. One year later, Doria returned to the royal residence<\/a> to witness the baptism of her grandson, Archie<\/a>, and posed beside several senior members of her son-in-law\u2019s family.<\/p>\n Harry and Meghan sent shockwaves throughout the palace in January 2020 when they announced their plans<\/a> to step down from their senior duties. Two months later, they moved stateside, happy to close the distance<\/a> between the Northwestern University grad and her mother.<\/p>\n \u201cMeghan has been seeing her mom while in L.A.,\u201d a source told Us Weekly<\/em> exclusively in May 2020, shortly before the royal couple settled down in the quieter Montecito neighborhood<\/a> in Santa Barbara, California.<\/p>\n Through all of her ups and downs \u2014 including her 2020 miscarriage<\/a> \u2014 Meghan turned to Doria for guidance. After welcoming their second child, daughter Lilibet \u201cLili\u201d Diana<\/a>, in June 2021, the Archewell cofounders felt lucky to have an experienced caretaker nearby.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve had lots of lovely gifts<\/a> sent from friends and family members including Doria, but the most special thing she\u2019s provided is her time,\u201d an insider told Us<\/em> of the couple after Meghan gave birth. \u201cShe\u2019s been helping out at the house and her hands-on support<\/a> is a major bonus.\u201d<\/p>\n