Welcome to the family! Prince Charles and Doria Ragland put on heartwarming display
MEGHAN’S mother Doria Ragland was a picture of happiness as she linked arms with Prince Charles and Camilla after the wedding service. She enjoyed a chat with her daughter’s new father-in-law, who stood in at the last minute to walk the bride down the aisle.
Meghan Markle and Harry share kiss on wedding day in 2018
And at one stage Doria was overwhelmed by emotion as she appear to bite her lip and fight back the tears. She also joined the prince for the signing of the register.
It had been an eventful few days after the proud American mother flew in to London from Los Angeles for a series of getting-to-know-you meetings with the extended family, which included a teaparty hosted by Prince Charles.
She also visited the Queen and met Prince William, his wife Kate and two of their children. And judging by the friendly and happy exchanges yesterday, it seems that the preparations had cemented the bond for a special relationship between two transatlantic families. Doria travelled to the wedding with Meghan from Cliveden House in a vintage Rolls-Royce Phantom 4.
She looked glamorous in a pale pistachio Oscar de la Renta dress, with a Stephen Jones hat, as the car passed through the grand setting of Windsor Great Park.
Doria Ragland glows with joy as she links arms with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall
Doria adopts the regal wave to thousands of onlookers
We can just have so much fun together, and yet I’ll still find so much solace in her support
Doria was the only member of her side of the family to attend the wedding and she sat alone in choir stalls close to her daughter. During the service the yoga teacher and therapist often looked deep in thought.
But she could also be seen to enjoy the passionate address by preacher the Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry. It had been anticipated that Doria might take on the role of accompanying her daughter down the aisle.
However, she reportedly felt unable to act as a replacement for Meghan’s father. Meghan, whose parents divorced in 1987, has said of her mother: “We can just have so much fun together, and yet I’ll still find so much solace in her support. “That duality coexists the same way it would in a best friend.”
Meghan’s father Thomas Markle, who was unable to attend, watched the service on television at home in Mexico and lavished praise on his daughter.
In a statement, he said: “My baby looks beautiful and she looks very happy.
I wish I were there and I wish them all my love and happiness.” And he described the ceremony as “emotional and joyful”.
Mr Markle is said to have undergone surgery following a heart attack. It was also alleged that he had made a deal with paparazzi to sell photographs of himself.
Yesterday, his cliff-top home had its shutters closed and no one appeared to be inside.