Meghan Markle’s Celebration Ahead of Prince Harry’s Solo New York Trip Revealed

The Duchess of Sussex celebrated her mother’s 68th birthday on Monday, 2 September. Meghan Markle, known for her thoughtful gestures, no doubt marked Doria Ragland’s special day in a memorable way.

Meghan and her mother share an incredibly close bond. During her recent trip to Colombia, Meghan paid tribute to Doria at a forum celebrating Afro-Colombian women.

“I find inspiration in the strong women around me. Of course, my mother being one of them. So much of how I approach things is less about the fight and more about how we show up in a space and wash things over with love and kindness and generosity,” Meghan said.

She emphasized the importance of ensuring young girls’ voices are heard and that young boys are taught to listen to girls. “The role of men in this is crucial – and my husband is an example of this,” she added.

While Meghan is estranged from her father, Thomas Markle, Doria has been a significant support to her daughter and Prince Harry throughout their relationship.

Recalling the moment she learned about Meghan dating the British royal, Doria shared in their Netflix docuseries, released in December 2022, “When she told me, we’re on the phone and she says, ‘Mummy, I’m going out with Prince Harry’. I started whispering ‘Oh my god!’.

Speaking about meeting her future son-in-law for the first time, Doria added, “I remember when I first met him (Harry) too, a 6’1 handsome man with red hair, really great manners. It was just really nice, and they looked really happy together, like he was the one. Once it was announced that they were together, it seemed kind of like a novelty.”

Harry holds his “amazing” mother-in-law in high regard. In his memoir, Spare, he recalled being nervous about meeting Doria for the first time in London. “We were celebrating Doria, celebrating being together, and doing it all at our favorite place, Soho House at 76 Dean Street,” he wrote.

He added, “That dinner with Doria was wonderful, but I look back on it now as the end of the beginning. The next day, the pap photos appeared, and there was a new flood of stories, a new surge along the many channels of social media. Racism, misogyny, criminal stupidity – it all increased.”

Doria, a yoga instructor and retired social worker, also shares a sweet bond with her grandchildren, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three. The Sussexes live in Montecito, while Doria resides about 90 minutes away by car in Los Angeles.

Last year, Harry and Meghan started Doria’s birthday celebrations in style by joining the crowd at Beyonce’s Renaissance tour. Adhering to Beyonce’s birthday request for fans to wear silver, Harry sported a grey jacket, Meghan dazzled in a sequin skirt, and Doria chose a metallic halter-neck blouse.

Doria’s birthday comes just 13 days before Harry’s 40th birthday on 15 September. The Duke is set for a solo visit to New York to engage with some of his patronages and charities, including African Parks, The HALO Trust, The Diana Award, and Travalyst.